Used violins in the UAE typically sell for AED 220 to AED 1,500 (about $61 to $405). Violin values run from student instruments worth very little to fine older instruments worth a great deal, and telling them apart needs care.
What violins are worth in the UAE
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | AED 1,483 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | AED 1,260 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | AED 964 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | AED 667 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | AED 371 | 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
- A sound post and bridge correctly fitted
- Bow and case included, particularly a good bow
What pulls it down
- Laminated student instruments, which sell for very little
- Missing or warped bows
Selling a violin 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.
Trading is not open in the Emirates yet, so treat this as a reference page: the pricing and the checks below hold, but the listings will appear once sellers here start posting.
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
- Check the seams around the edge for openings
- Confirm the bridge stands straight and the sound post is in place
Getting it ready
- Confirm the size: full, three-quarter, half or smaller, measured by body length.
- Check the bridge is standing correctly, the soundpost is in place, and the pegs hold.
Photograph
- The bridge and f-holes, showing the soundpost through the hole
- The scroll and pegbox
- The bow, case, and any crack, open seam or repair
Put in the description
- Size as a fraction, and body length in centimetres
- Whether it is ready to play, and when it was last set up
- Whether a bow, case, shoulder rest and rosin are included
Post only in a hard case with the bridge protected and the bow hair slackened. Collection lets a buyer or their teacher try it, which suits both sides.
Lifts in September as school lessons start, and before Christmas. Student sizes sell fastest in those windows.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the AED 1,483 a buyer pays is the AED 1,483 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 violins.
- Selling a violin in Dubai
- Selling a violin in Sharjah
- Selling a violin in Abu Dhabi
- Selling a violin in Al Ain
- Selling a violin in Ajman
Common questions
Where can I sell a violin 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.
Is the soundpost in place?
Look through the f-hole; the post stands between the top and back near the bridge foot. A dropped post means the violin needs a luthier before it plays.
How can I tell if a violin is valuable?
Look through the f-hole for a label, and check whether the top is carved or laminated. Genuinely old instruments should be assessed by a specialist.
Are labels inside violins reliable?
Often not — many are aspirational copies rather than genuine attributions. Report what the label says without claiming it is authentic.
More: how to sell a violin, what violins are worth, or Music & Instruments across the United Arab Emirates.