iPhone 16 and 17 prices drop up to 19% in UAE ahead of iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 18
Chronological coverage
First seen16 Sept, 17:24iPhone 16 and 17 prices drop up to 19% in UAE ahead of iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 18
Dubai: E-commerce platforms and retail outlets have recently introduced price reductions on a number of previous iPhone models, coinciding with the approaching launch date of the highly anticipated new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models in the country’s markets, scheduled for Friday, September 18. A survey of a number of retail outlets revealed price offers on previous versions of iPhones, with discounts ranging between 10.6% and 19%, mainly including iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models in various categories and specifications. The most notable offers included the sale of the iPhone 16 with 128GB of storage for Dh2,751, compared to a previous price of Dh3,399. The discounts also included offering the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage at a price of Dh4,179, instead of its previous price of Dh5,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro with 256GB of storage was offered at a price of Dh4,199, compared to a previous price of Dh4699. Consumers considered the discounts offered to be a positive development in the markets, as they allow those wishing to purchase these devices to obtain them at low prices. Meanwhile, retail officials considered that the offers were due to the increased intensity of competition in the markets, and the desire of stores to increase their sales shares and clear out their existing stock of old devices. In detail, consumer Khaled Amer said that the discounts offered by platforms and stores on previous versions of iPhones allow consumers to choose between different versions of those phones, noting that many consumers are looking to buy these devices at low prices, especially given the price differences between the new and previous versions. For his part, consumer Hassan Baher said that a large number of consumers prefer to buy previous versions of iPhones if they are offered at low prices, explaining that this usually happens in conjunction with the release of new versions in the markets, as stores seek to offer price deals on previous models to attract buyers and encourage them to make a purchase decision. Consumer Nadine Emad considered the discounts to be among the positive aspects that give consumers the opportunity to buy iPhones at good prices, noting that some consumers put price at the forefront of the factors that determine their purchasing decisions when they want to buy these products, and therefore the decrease in prices may encourage them to buy previous versions instead of waiting for the latest versions. Vikas Nilesh, a sales manager at an electronics store, said that retailers offering price reductions on previous iPhones, coinciding with the imminent release of new models, is mainly due to the growing intensity of competition in the markets and the desire of stores to increase and boost their sales shares. He added that competition between stores and platforms drives companies to offer deals and price reductions on previous releases, with the aim of attracting consumers and encouraging them to buy, especially as the new models are about to be released. Mohammed Shahid, a sales manager at an electronics store, agreed that offering discounts on previous iPhone models allows stores to attract more consumers to buy these products, which contributes to increasing their sales and clearing their available stock. He pointed out that some consumers see buying previous versions during the discount period as a better opportunity than waiting until the new versions are released, especially for consumers who do not require owning the latest version of the phone, and give greater importance to the price in exchange for obtaining a device with suitable specifications. For his part, Dilip Vishal, a sales manager at a retail company, said that local markets are currently witnessing remarkable competition between stores and platforms, through offering discounts at varying price percentages on different previous versions of iPhones. He explained that these offers come in conjunction with preparations for the launch of the new iPhones expected in the country’s markets, including the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, which are scheduled to be released in the markets on Friday, September 18.
MBMobile Business•Ahmed El Sherbini
Follow-up17 Sept, 20:54iPhone 18 Pro UAE launch day: Deliveries begin September 18 as pre-orders see strong turnout
Dubai: Apple outlets and a number of electronics stores in the UAE markets will begin delivering today the new iPhones - the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models - to customers who have pre-ordered them. Apple outlets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with electronic stores and the country’s two telecommunications service providers, had made it possible for customers to pre-order the new phones starting from September 12. The company announced that pre-orders for the iPhone Duo in the UAE would begin on October 16, with availability in the markets starting on the 23rd of the same month. The price of the iPhone 18 Pro in the UAE starts from Dh5,099, while the price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts from Dh5,499, while the storage capacities of the new versions of the iPhones starting from 256GB, and reaching a storage capacity of 2TB. Dilip Riki, a sales manager at an electronics store, said that pre-orders for the new phones have seen a large turnout from various consumer nationalities, noting in particular the high demand for the iPhone 18 Pro with 256GB of memory. For his part, another sales official, Ashwin Baiju, confirmed that the markets witnessed a remarkable turnout for pre-orders of the new iPhone models, especially the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, noting that a large number of consumers showed interest in obtaining these models early, as soon as they were launched and became available in the markets. A third sales official, Vikas Nilesh, also confirmed that the markets witnessed, with the start of pre-ordering for the new iPhones, a large turnout of consumers to make reservations, explaining that the largest share of orders focused on the iPhone 18 Pro, especially the versions that come with a storage capacity of 256GB. Apple currently operates five official stores in the UAE, distributed as follows: two stores in Abu Dhabi, two stores in Dubai, and one store in Al Ain. Among the most prominent technologies that Apple has supported in its new products is the introduction of a mechanically variable aperture camera for the first time in the company’s phones, for the main camera with a resolution of 48 megapixels in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The company also equipped the new phones with a faster processor based on the “A20 Pro” chip manufactured with 2-nanometer technology, which includes a six-core central processing unit and a seven-core graphics processing unit, in addition to increasing the memory bandwidth by 50% compared to the previous chip.
MBMobile Business•Ahmed El Sherbini
Follow-up18 Sept, 06:23Early queues at Dubai Mall as iPhone 18 goes on sale in UAE
Since 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Dubai Mall has witnessed large crowds of people eager to buy the new iPhone 18 series across all models. Customers lined up outside the Apple Store awaiting the start of sales and the opportunity to obtain the latest devices, coinciding with their launch in the UAE market. The turnout follows a pre-order period that saw strong demand for the new devices, amid reports that some models sold out within less than 20 minutes of pre-orders opening. Apple does not allow direct purchases from its official stores on launch day, as the day is primarily reserved for customers who have pre-ordered their devices and selected in-store collection. These customers are notified by email of their designated pick-up time. UAE market The early turnout reflects the strong interest in new iPhone releases in the UAE market, particularly as the UAE is among the first countries in the world where the new device is available. The country also ranks second globally after the United States for the lowest purchase price of the iPhone 18 Pro, with the device priced at AED 5,099 in the UAE. The UAE has also maintained its position as the cheapest market for the iPhone 18 Pro in the Middle East and North Africa, enhancing the attractiveness of the local market for those seeking to purchase the latest Apple devices as official sales of the new generation begin. Price list The iPhone 18 Pro starts at AED 5,099, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at AED 5,499. Storage capacities for the new models range from 256GB to 2TB. Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, will arrive in the UAE market at a later date. Pre-orders will open on October 16, with availability beginning on October 23. Prices in the UAE will start from AED 8,499, adding a new model to the company's smartphone portfolio this year. UAE's first buyer Mohammed Shaka, a Pakistani accountant, was waiting at Dubai Mall to receive his new phone, becoming the first buyer of the iPhone 18 Pro Max following the device's launch on Friday. Shaka said that he was delighted to receive the phone, adding that he had been eagerly anticipating the moment, particularly because he is an iPhone enthusiast who makes a point of purchasing each new version. He said that every iPhone launch feels special to him and noted that his connection with the product goes back many years. He began buying iPhones with the release of the iPhone 4 and has continued purchasing subsequent models ever since. His passion extends beyond using the devices. Shaka maintains a collection of vintage iPhones acquired over the years, displaying them on shelves in his home as part of a personal collection. This year, Shaka chose the iPhone 18 Pro Max to add to his collection and expressed his happiness at being the first buyer of the new device at its UAE launch.
MBMobile Business•Ibadah Ibrahim
Latest19h agoiPhone 18 Pro launches in UAE to strong demand, with a second wave expected when iPhone Duo arrives
Dubai: Official Apple stores in the UAE, along with a number of electronics stores and outlets of the two telecom operators, e& and du, began delivering the new versions of the iPhone 18 yesterday, amid remarkable consumer demand. Queues of consumers with pre-orders were observed waiting to receive their devices from the Apple store in Dubai Mall, as a number of them began flocking to the store during the early morning hours, hours before the scheduled time for the delivery of the new phones. Consumers confirmed that they made sure to complete pre-orders and come to the store early, in order to ensure they received the new phones as soon as they were released. Electronic stores and telecommunications company outlets also witnessed a surge in customers eager to acquire new phones. Experts in the telecommunications and electronics supply sectors stated that the market demand for the new releases is due to the introduction of modern and advanced technologies within the iPhone 18 Pro phones, in addition to providing new options and colours. The prices of the new iPhone models ranges between Dh5,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Dh5,499 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, depending on the different versions and specifications. Advanced features in the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with their attractive new colours, were cited as the biggest reasons why consumers were drawn to the phones. Picture credit: Ashok Verma Consumer Mohammed Shaker said that he recorded the first delivery of the new iPhones from the Apple store in Dubai Mall yesterday, noting that he had to arrive before 6am and queue up to get the phones. He added that he bought iPhone 18 Pro Max phones with different storage capacities for his family members. For his part, consumer Mohammed Ismail said that he bought three iPhone 18 Pro Max phones, with storage capacities of up to 512GB, for members of his family and friends, explaining that he was keen to choose the devices in the new colours that the company introduced with the latest releases. Consumer Youssef Emad stated that he bought the new iPhones as part of his desire to upgrade to higher specifications compared to the phones he currently owns, noting that he bought two new devices for himself and his wife. He confirmed that he made sure to queue up from the early morning hours to get the new phones as soon as they started being delivered. In the same context, Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer of du, said that the company has observed a large demand from customers to obtain the new versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in various storage capacities and colours. He added that the company began to provide devices to customers who had pre-orders yesterday, through its various outlets, noting that the volume of demand reflects the customers’ interest in the new releases, and their eagerness to acquire the phones as soon as they are released in the markets. Benkirane pointed out that this year is witnessing a difference in the nature of demand for new phone releases, with two peak periods of demand from customers for the latest iPhone technologies. He explained that the first peak is currently appearing with the launch and delivery of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the markets are expected to witness another peak of demand with the start of the anticipated reservations for the new foldable iPhone Duo phones during October. He explained that the remarkable demand for new phones in the markets is due to two main factors. The first is the advanced technologies included in the devices, whether in terms of cameras, processors, or artificial intelligence technologies. The second factor, according to Benkiran, relates to the new colours that the company introduced with the phones, which have attracted the attention of many customers. For his part, Mustafa Anan, sales manager at an electronics supply outlet, said that stores are witnessing a high demand from customers to buy new phones after pre-orders were completed, noting that demand began to rise as devices began to be made available to consumers. He added that the new colours, which are being introduced for the first time, along with the modern technologies included in the phones, are among the most prominent factors attracting customers, noting that developments related to cooling processes and variable cameras also represent elements that attract consumer attention when making the decision to purchase the new releases. Fouad Abdel-Zaher, a phone sales manager at an electronics store, confirmed that demand for the new iPhones began immediately upon their availability in stores, noting that many customers were keen to acquire the modern technologies included in the devices at an early stage. He added that this demand is particularly linked to changes in a number of technologies and specifications in the new phones, including charging capabilities, cooling systems and imaging technologies, which prompts some consumers to replace their current devices and acquire the latest versions as soon as they are released to the markets.
MBMobile Business•Ahmed Al-Sherbini