Stop Off at Thoban
It is worthwhile stopping off at the Thoban Pottery Factory to see traditional pots being made and to buy these crafts at factory prices.
Thoban is one of the many small towns that one passes on the road between Dubai/Sharjah and
The Thoban Pottery Factory is a popular stopping off place for many tourist buses.
Finding the Factory
Coming from Dubai/Sharjah, 15 kms after turning right at Dhaid’s Mosque Roundabout one passes an Eppco Petrol Station on your right and the turn off to
Coming from Fujairah you need to drive through Thoban and before you see the road going right to
For more detail check this article, Directions from Dubai to Fujairah.
The sign declares that one drives 800 metres down this road. After you see a bus shelter on the left with an image of a pot, turn left for another 300 metres until you reach the driveway on the left (which is also signposted). This driveway will take you past houses on the right and it will begin to veer to the left again towards the factory.
Ask for a Tour
The Thoban Pottery Factory has been owned and managed for seventeen years by Ali Rashid.
Peshawar-born, Abdul Qadir (yes, the same name as the great Pakistani leg spin bowler), has supervised the operation at the Thoban Pottery Factory for about the same number of years. Abdul is the one most likely to give you a tour.
Types of Pots
Thoban is the place for turning traditional Arabic terracotta pots but the factory also makes pots of a European design.
The three main types that are made are:
1. Pots with antique designs
2. Pots for planters
3. Pots for interior and exterior decoration including fountains and lamp stands
Raw Material
The clay that is used comes from the UAE (RAK) and
Potters
The Thoban Pottery factory has eight fulltime potters who were trained in
Outlets
The factory sells pots at the door but they also distribute to gift shops in
Pottery Process
The potters are so adept at their craft they can turn out a small pot in a few minutes.
When the pots are taken from the wheel they are placed outside in the sun for a day for drying.
The firing stage is next and twice a month the kiln is filled with approximately 1,000 large and small pots. They are placed in three lines inside the kiln which is made of bricks and plastered with clay.
The kiln is diesel fired and reaches between 700-900C in this hardening phase that lasts for 36 hours.
When the firing finishes it takes a day for the cooling of the kiln before the pots are brought out to display and sell.
There is no glazing of the pots because, according to Abdul Qadir, “Our customers want the natural colours.”
Visiting Days and Hours
The Thoban Pottery factory is open every day except Friday between these hours:
7.50am-1.00pm
3.00pm-5.00pm
Contact Details
Thoban Pottery Factory
Thoban,
Tel: (06) 8827528
Fax: (06) 8827528
Manager: Ali Rashid
Supervisor: Abdul Qadir: 050 3904499; 050 5157196
Location on Google Maps
View Thoban Pottery Factory, Fujairah in a larger map
Take a Look
Some pictures of the pottery making and the finished items are in this photo album.
Geoff Pound
This article is also posted in the
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