Apple has introduced its first foldable iPhone, which features the largest display among the company's smartphones, a new chip designed for artificial intelligence and multitasking, and a design that combines an outer screen with a larger retractable display. The starting price for this device is 8,499 UAE dirhams.
Announced on September 9, the gadget will be available for pre-order in the UAE starting October 16, with sales beginning on October 23. However, for consumers weighing whether the features justify the cost, there is an alternative way to assess the sum of 8,499 dirhams: what else can be purchased for the same amount?
In the UAE, little illustrates purchasing power as clearly as gold. As of September 13, 22-karat gold was priced at 485.25 dirhams per gram, meaning 8,499 dirhams is equivalent to approximately 17.5 grams of precious metal, based solely on the price of gold. When purchasing jewelry, buyers must account for manufacturing fees and other applicable costs, which will reduce the actual weight they can obtain for the same amount. Nevertheless, the comparison is striking: the starting price of the new foldable iPhone from Apple is roughly equivalent to the cost of just under 18 grams of 22-karat gold.
The most notable comparison, however, is presented in listings for used cars in the UAE. There are several vehicles listed for sale below the starting price of the iPhone Duo at 8,499 dirhams. Although these are older cars with high mileage, buyers may also incur additional expenses such as registration, insurance, maintenance, or any necessary repairs. Nevertheless, this comparison is hard to ignore: in the UAE, one can find a used car advertised for less than the new foldable iPhone from Apple.
The same amount can also provide significant opportunities in air travel. Direct return flights between Dubai and Jeddah cost about 1,301 dirhams. At this price, 8,499 dirhams would cover six round trips, totaling 7,806 dirhams, with a remainder of 693 dirhams. Direct return flights from Dubai to Mumbai, checked on September 14, started from 1,638 dirhams. At this price, 8,499 dirhams could cover five return routes, with a total cost of 8,190 dirhams, leaving a remainder of 309 dirhams. Regarding London, direct return tickets cost about 3,775 dirhams. Thus, the iPhone Duo is equivalent to two round-trip tickets from Dubai to London, costing 7,550 dirhams, with 949 dirhams remaining.
Airfares are dynamic and can change depending on the airline, travel dates, demand, and how far in advance passengers book tickets. Nevertheless, based on checked fares, the price of one iPhone Duo can cover up to six round trips from Dubai.
Consider a resident of Dubai who spends 50,000 dirhams annually on an apartment. This amounts to approximately 4,167 dirhams per month, meaning two months' rent would cost around 8,334 dirhams. Consequently, the starting price of the iPhone Duo is sufficient to cover slightly more than two months' rent at this spending level, with the phone's cost being equivalent to about 17 percent of the renter's annual rent.
Additionally, there is the supermarket bill. Assuming a household spends 2,000 dirhams per month on groceries, 8,499 dirhams would cover grocery expenses for more than four months. Four full months would cost 8,000 dirhams, leaving 499 dirhams. Actual grocery expenses, of course, will vary greatly depending on family size, brands, and shopping habits. But with the assumed monthly budget, the phone's price represents more than a third of the annual grocery expenses.