Used pottery in the UAE typically sells for AED 49 to AED 890 (about $13 to $240). Studio pottery and factory ware sell in different markets, and the mark on the base is what tells them apart.
What pottery is worth in the UAE
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | AED 890 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | AED 756 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | AED 578 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | AED 400 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | AED 222 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- No chips, cracks or restoration
- Larger and more unusual forms
What pulls it down
- Chips on rims and foot rings
- Common factory ware in large supply
Selling pottery in the UAE
Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
The UAE has an unusually active second-hand market driven by how often people arrive and leave — relocation sales mean good-quality items turn over quickly and often at well below their age.
Domestic courier coverage is quick and cheap by international standards, and most of the population is within a short drive of everyone else.
Turnover peaks around the summer, when a large share of relocations happen and whole households are sold at once.
Working out what yours is worth
- Tap the piece gently and listen for a dull ring
- Run a finger around rims and the foot
Getting it ready
- Turn every piece over and photograph the base marks, impressed, printed or painted.
- Tap the rim gently with a fingernail. A clear ring means sound; a dull thud usually means a crack, even an invisible one.
Photograph
- The base mark, filling the frame and legible
- The rim and foot all the way round
- Any chip, hairline crack, crazing, restoration or glaze fault, close up
Put in the description
- Maker and pattern name if known, with the base mark photographed
- Height and diameter, and capacity for functional pieces
- Every chip, crack, crazing and restoration, stated plainly
Post double boxed with each piece individually wrapped and no piece touching another. Ceramics are the most commonly broken thing in the post, and single-boxing is why.
Steady year round, with a lift before Christmas. Replacement tableware in discontinued patterns sells quickly at any time because the buyer has no alternative source.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the AED 890 a buyer pays is the AED 890 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Arab Emirates with their own page for pottery.
Common questions
Where can I sell pottery in the UAE?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
What is the mark on the base?
Photograph it rather than transcribing it. Collectors identify factories and dates from marks far more accurately than a description can convey.
How do I identify pottery?
The mark on the base. Photograph it clearly — studio potters use personal marks and factories use identifiable backstamps.
How do I check for cracks?
Tap gently and listen. A clear ring means sound; a dull thud usually means a hairline crack somewhere.
More: how to sell pottery, what pottery is worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Arab Emirates.