Best Pottery Classes in Sharjah: Addresses, Fees, Contacts & More

Sharjah has a quieter but culturally rich pottery scene, shaped by heritage institutions, traditional workshops, and small-format creative classes. Compared with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, pottery in Sharjah is less “boutique studio culture” and more tied to craft, education, and cultural preservation. That can be a significant advantage if you want a grounded, skills-based introduction rather than a trend-led experience.

If you’re planning to relocate for an extended stay, a quick scan of Sharjah price benchmarks via the Home Value Estimator helps you set expectations before narrowing down neighbourhoods.

• Top pottery classes and studios in Sharjah
• Pottery class fees in Sharjah: what to expect
• Choosing the right pottery studio in Sharjah
• How materials and firing usually work
• Other notable pottery and creative studios near Sharjah
• What to expect from your first pottery class in Sharjah
• Key takeaways
• FAQs

Top Pottery Classes and Studios in Sharjah

Sharjah Art Foundation – Pottery Craftsmanship through Clay Hollowing and Shaping

Sharjah Art Foundation runs a structured pottery programme that feels closer to an arts institute course than a casual workshop. The focus is on craftsmanship techniques, specifically traditional methods such as hollowing and shaping clay strips. It’s a strong choice if you prefer to learn more systematically, with time to practise over multiple days rather than rushing through a one-off experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Location: Sharjah Art Institute, Arts Square, Sharjah

• Fees: AED 100 (materials included)
• Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, over two weeks
• Contact: +971 6 568 8800

Best for: Beginners who want a structured learning environment, anyone interested in traditional methods, and learners who prefer practice over a single “trial class.”

Al Fakher Pottery – Traditional Pottery Workshop (Al Dhaid)

Al Fakher Pottery offers one of the most authentic “heritage craft” experiences in the emirate. This is less about formal lesson plans and more about traditional pottery production methods and a hands-on look at how clay work has historically been done in the region. If you care about cultural context and craftsmanship, it can feel more meaningful than a standard studio class.

Because it’s located in Al Dhaid, this option also becomes a good “day-trip” activity for people who want to connect pottery with a broader look at Sharjah’s inland identity beyond the city centre. It’s ideal for people who want an experience with story, heritage, and a sense of continuity, not just a finished pot.

• Location: E88 Road, Dhaid–Masafi Road, Al Dhaid, Sharjah
  

• Fees: Ranges between 5 and 20 AED per piece 
• Schedule: Two-week course: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 am–1:00 pm
• Contact: +971 55 842 4577 | +971 6 882 5618

Best for: Cultural experiences, heritage craft lovers, and anyone who wants a more traditional environment than a modern “art studio” setting.

Skilldeer – Ceramics with Shahid (Sharjah)

If you want a pottery session that feels approachable and beginner-friendly, Skilldeer-hosted sessions are often built exactly for that. The format tends to be short (around two hours), guided, and focused on hand-building without a wheel. For many first-timers, this is the easiest entry point because you can complete a small project without needing wheel skills, and you don’t have to commit to multiple days.

These sessions can also suit visitors or busy residents because they are designed for quick scheduling. The trade-off is that prices can vary depending on what’s currently offered.

• Location: Sharjah – at your premises
• Fees: 250 AED 
• Schedule: Upon booking; Valid for 45 days
• Contact: +97145538723

Best for: Beginners who want a short introduction, travellers, and anyone who prefers hand-building to wheel throwing for their first attempt.

American University of Sharjah – Ceramics Studio (AUS)

AUS has a ceramics studio equipped to a professional standard, including pottery wheels and kilns, as well as specialist equipment (such as slab rollers and a pug mill). This is the kind of facility that can support serious ceramics work, not only casual “one-off” sessions.

The critical context is that access may be limited or structured around university programmes. If you are not a student, it’s worth enquiring whether public workshops, community programmes, or short courses are available at certain times.

• Location: American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah
  

• Contact: through AUS CAAD Material Fabrication Labs Specialist (bgirgis@aus.edu) / university enquiry routes

Best for: Students, advanced users, or people seeking professional studio facilities and equipment.

Pottery Class Fees in Sharjah: What to Expect

Sharjah has fewer publicly advertised pottery classes than Dubai or Abu Dhabi, so it helps to think in ranges. Costs usually depend on four things: whether the class is a one-off or a multi-week programme, whether clay and tools are included, whether firing or glazing is included, and whether it is private or group.

Sharjah’s slower pace suits weeknight classes, especially if your routine already revolves around the emirate’s cultural calendar and weekend spots covered in hidden gems in Sharjah.

Choosing the Right Pottery Studio in Sharjah

The “best” option is the one that matches your goal, not the one with the most equipment.

Choose Sharjah Art Foundation if you want:

• a structured programme with repeated practice
• traditional techniques and craftsmanship
• a low-cost entry point with materials included
• a classroom environment that feels focused

Choose Al Fakher Pottery if you want:

• heritage and authenticity over “studio polish”
• a cultural craft experience in Al Dhaid
• a hands-on day that feels rooted in place

Choose Skilldeer sessions if you want:

• a short beginner session
• hand-building without needing wheel skills
• flexible booking that works around your schedule

Consider AUS if you want:

• professional studio equipment
• a pathway that may lead to more advanced ceramics work
• access that is linked to academic or institutional programmes

For those planning a longer stay, pottery routines often settle around residential hubs already mapped in Sharjah property guides, rather than around one-off workshop locations.

How Materials and Firing Usually Work

Many beginners assume pottery is “make it today, take it home today.” In reality, pottery usually takes time because clay needs to dry evenly before firing, and glazing adds stage.

In structured environments, the process often looks like:

1. Create your piece (hand-building or wheel)
2. Drying (several days, depending on thickness)
3. Bisque firing (first firing to harden the clay)
4. Glazing (optional, depending on class)
5. Final firing (to set glaze and finish the piece)

Some studios include firing and glazing in the fee, while others treat firing as a separate batch process. 

For residents budgeting creative hobbies alongside housing costs, broader affordability checks using the Rent vs Buy Calculator can help put recurring expenses into perspective.

Other Notable Pottery and Creative Studios Near Sharjah

Sharjah also has broader creative spaces where clay or ceramics may appear as part of wider art programming. These are helpful if you want a more casual, mixed-media experience rather than a dedicated pottery pathway.

• Al Marsam Al Hor / Sharjah Cultural Foundation programmes: Often includes ceramics basics and craft workshops alongside other art forms.
• Community-focused studios and workshop spaces sometimes offer ceramics sessions in small cycles or seasonal formats.
• Mixed creative studios: May include clay-making, ceramic painting, or craft-based workshops, depending on schedule.

These options are best treated as “bonus choices” when the main pottery classes are fully booked or when you want a lighter, social creative activity.

What to Expect From Your First Pottery Class in Sharjah

A first pottery class is usually beginner-friendly and relaxed, even when the instructor is teaching real technique. You don’t need artistic experience. What you do need is patience; clay has its own rules.

What typically happens in a first session

• A short intro to clay types and basic tools
• A demonstration of the technique (hand-building or wheel basics)
• Hands-on work with instructor guidance
• Basic finishing (smoothing, shaping, simple decoration)
• Instructions on drying and firing, if included

Hand-building vs wheel throwing for beginners

• Hand-building is usually easier because you control the shape with your hands and simple tools.
• Wheel throwing is exciting but more challenging to master quickly, and many “first classes” are more of a demo plus a short attempt rather than true skill-building in one session.

Simple tips that improve your first class

• Wear comfortable clothes that can get dusty.
• Keep expectations flexible; your first piece is practice, not perfection.
• Ask early about firing and collection timelines.
• Choose the format that suits you: structured (with more guidance) or workshop (with more flexibility).

Classes in Sharjah are often tied to quieter residential communities such as Al Majaz, Al Khan, and Muwaileh Commercial, each offering a different day-to-day rhythm.

Key Takeaways

Sharjah’s pottery scene is smaller than that of other emirates, but it offers strong options rooted in culture and education. Sharjah Art Foundation is typically the most accessible structured programme at a low cost, with materials included. Al Fakher Pottery provides a heritage-led, traditional experience in Al Dhaid. Skilldeer-hosted sessions can be a practical, beginner-friendly entry point for a short guided workshop. AUS has professional equipment, though access may depend on university pathways. Whichever you choose, plan for pottery to take time, especially if you want to fire and have a finished piece to collect later.

FAQs

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