The 10 best art classes in Abu Dhabi

Drawing, colouring and painting classes are delivered online by Anisha’s Art Academy for children and adults. Anisha’s Drawing Class and its online lessons give learners structured opportunities to practise creative skills, with individual guidance available for young beginners.

The academy also runs short boot camps and displays student work through art exhibitions. Mrs Anisha Anil Tharakan brings more than 20 years of experience in the field and teaches students from more than 30 cities. Fees, offers and batch timings are shared through WhatsApp, making online art classes for children and adults the clearest part of its offer.

Art exhibitions, performances and creative programmes share space with a children’s library at Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi. The centre supports cultural exchange through year-round exhibitions, public programmes and performing arts, with workshops for teens and adults including Arabic calligraphy and visual arts. Entry to exhibitions is free and no prior booking is needed for this part of the visit.

Families can use the Children’s Library and Children’s Art Centre for books, workshops and activities. Paid programmes are marked separately and require prior booking, while the building also provides disability access through visitor experience specialists and complimentary Wi-Fi across the centre.

Creative workshops and celebration sessions give children a way to make, explore and spend time together at Breath Creative Space. Activities include tote bag painting, bag crocheting and candle making, making the venue suitable for birthdays, school-break visits and small group occasions.

Parents can use the waiting area while children take part, with coffee, water and tea available. Online programme choices and payment make it possible to select an activity before the visit.

Wheel throwing, hand building and candle-making workshops give Studio CLAY a practical creative focus. Beginners can learn to make cylinders, bowls and cups on the wheel, or create pots using hand-building techniques before slip painting and glazing.

The studio also offers memberships for casual throwers, aspiring ceramicists and professional artists, alongside kiln firing and private events. Wheel and hand-building workshops run for three hours for adults aged 13 and above, with children’s sessions for ages four to 12. Candle workshops are limited to eight people. Wheel throwing and hand building make the studio suitable for first-time potters.

Interactive cultural displays, international exhibitions and a theatre make Manarat Al Saadiyat a broad arts destination rather than a conventional gallery visit. Its programme brings together exhibitions, talks and workshops, with space for visitors to explore artistic expression and cultural activity.

The Art Studio offers drop-in activities and onsite workshops for children and adults, while an upper-floor area lets adults create or relax while keeping watch over children working below. Children under eight must remain with an adult, and children aged eight or above may work under staff supervision while an adult stays nearby. The venue also includes a restaurant and café.