Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with the first foldable, iPhone Duo, on September 9. Though the official rollout of the devices is yet to begin, pre-orders have begun in most regions. The UAE is not an exception. Residents of the country can pre-order the models starting from September 12, while the phone will be available starting from September 18.
However, what attracted the attention of global buyers is that some Dubai buyers are ready to spend up to Dh 1,500 more than the official price to get their phones on the first day, according to retailers.
The 512GB iPhone 18 Pro Max is getting strong interest from buyers. The new phones come in Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy. Burgundy is already drawing attention according to retailer reports. Apple’s Dubai Mall store saw strong interest, with buyers asking about the new models before they go on sale. Still, some shoppers are waiting for reviews or the upcoming iPhone Duo.
However, the pre-orders are still fewer than previous times. Mohammed Shareef, owner of Extel Mobiles, reported, “Usually, by this time, we have about 2000 pre-orders, but this time, the pre-orders have been significantly lower.” He even stated the reasons behind these lower pre-orders. According to him, “First is that due to the regional tensions, people are being more cautious in their spending. So many are choosing to wait and get reviews before making a decision.”
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Dubai has a large international customer base. The city is a busy market for premium phones. This makes new iPhone launches important events for retailers and buyers. This region is a major destination for flagship smartphones because of its international consumer base and competitive electronics market. The iPhone 18 Pro rush can help explain why premium technology launches perform differently in the UAE.
The early demand shows that some buyers are not just paying for the phone. They are also paying to have it first. For Apple fans, getting a new iPhone before others can be part of the appeal.