What a custom portrait costs in the UAE
Portrait prices depend on three things: the medium, the size and the number of people in the picture. As a guide from painters working in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah:
- Digital portrait, sent as a file to print: roughly AED 150 to AED 400.
- Pencil or charcoal on paper: roughly AED 250 to AED 700.
- Watercolour or gouache: roughly AED 350 to AED 900.
- Acrylic or oil on canvas: AED 600 upwards, and AED 1,500 or more for larger canvases or several people.
Each additional person or pet usually adds 30 to 50 percent. Framing is separate. On Trove's Services Marketplace, portrait painting starts from AED 350, with the final price confirmed by the artist once they have seen your photos and agreed the size.
How long it takes
Allow two to four weeks for a painted portrait, and more in December. A digital portrait can be a few days. If the portrait is for a date, say so when you book: artists can often fit a smaller piece in sooner.
What to send the artist
The quality of the portrait follows the quality of the reference photo. Send:
- A sharp photo in natural light, with the face filling a good part of the frame. Window light is better than a flash.
- The expression you want. A candid photo often paints better than a posed one.
- Two or three alternatives so the artist can combine the best angle with the best expression.
- The setting and the size of the wall it is for, so the artist can advise on canvas size.
Avoid heavily filtered photos, group shots where the face is tiny, and screenshots.
How booking works on Trove
- Choose a service on the Services Marketplace and send a booking request with your photos and the date you have in mind.
- The artist confirms the date and the final price.
- Pay by card through Trove, or settle directly with the artist if they offer it. Your phone number is shared with the artist only once the booking is secured.
- Agree a sketch or a progress photo before the artist commits to the final layer.
- Collect, or have it delivered.
The artist, not Trove, is responsible for the work itself, and the Services Terms explain the rest in plain English.
The two common disappointments, and how to avoid them
It does not look like them. This almost always comes from the reference photo. Spend time choosing it, and ask for a sketch stage.
It arrived too late. Agree the delivery date in writing when you book, and order before the rush.
Portraits as gifts
A portrait of a couple for an anniversary, a grandparent for a milestone birthday, a child for the family home, or a pet for someone who loves them: see our guide to pet portraits in the UAE. If you need the gift before the painting is ready, most artists will send a photo of the work in progress or a card to open on the day.
Are you a portrait artist?
Trove lists artists and providers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Listing is free during launch, Trove keeps 10% of bookings paid through Trove and nothing of bookings settled directly, and a real person reviews every application. Apply to offer services.