UAE Resellers Profit from High Demand for iPhone 18 Pro on Launch Day

A frenzy surrounded the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the United Arab Emirates, allowing some residents to quickly profit. Indian expats Raihan and Mohammed Shabib spent 550,000 dirhams to pre-order 76 units of the iPhone over two days at two Apple stores in Dubai.

These friends spent the night in their car near the Dubai Mall. Raihan reported that they live nearby but feared sleeping through the launch, so they stayed overnight in the car and arrived at the store at six in the morning. They collected 14 devices at the Dubai Mall on Friday morning and then headed to the Mall of the Emirates, where they picked up another 22. By noon, almost all phones were sold out.

Shabib noted that in the first hour after sales started, people were willing to pay up to 2,000 dirhams above the retail price, and most were sold with a premium ranging from 500 to 1,000 dirhams, as buyers want the phone on release day and are willing to pay for it.

They also mentioned having pre-ordered another 40 devices, which will be ready for collection on Saturday, September 19th. Raihan specified that the total expenditure for all these devices exceeded 550,000 dirhams, and they have both iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models with various storage capacities.

The duo spent more than thirty minutes using up to five devices to secure the desired quantity of gadgets. Shabib emphasized that guaranteeing a spot in the first slot on the first day is not easy. He added that they asked everyone else in their shared apartment to turn off Wi-Fi, and each acted immediately after pre-orders opened.

Another reseller, Hamid Raza, stood in line second at the Dubai Mall. He collected seven devices from there and then went to the Mall of the Emirates to pick up another 20. He stated that he hopes to resell them due to high demand, especially from Pakistan, where there are no iPhone stores yet.

Rustom Saidukov, who traveled to the UAE from Uzbekistan specifically to buy the new iPhone 18 Pro Max, noted that the strong demand back home justified the trip, despite the need to pay above the retail price. He said he bought about 20 phones, and for most of them, he had to pay a premium of approximately 500 to 1,500 dirhams over the initial price, depending on the model, storage capacity, and availability.

Rustom, who owns a mobile communications store in Tashkent, plans to take these phones with him. He explained that some will be immediately sold to waiting customers, while the rest will remain in stock at his store. People who want the newest iPhone in the first few days are often willing to pay more due to limited availability.

He added that for them, Dubai is one of the places where they can acquire the newest phones very quickly after the launch. Even paying a premium here, there may still be a market for these devices back home. The first few days are the most important because that's when demand peaks, and customers do not want to wait for official delivery.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Salah was forced to pay a premium of 1,200 dirhams to a reseller for an iPhone Pro Max 256GB because he could not purchase it directly from Apple. Ahmed shared that he tried to pre-order through Apple but was unsuccessful this time, although he has bought a new iPhone on the first day for years and did not want to break this tradition. Therefore, when he found the Pro Max 256GB at a reseller, he decided to pay an extra 1,200 dirhams.

According to a seller in Karama, customers flock to find new phones. Rafi from Extel Mobiles reported that demand is focused on the iPhone Pro Max, especially the 1TB and 2TB models. He noted that they had already sold about five units in the morning and expect demand to continue throughout the weekend. He sold each model with a premium of about 1,500 dirhams.

Rafi also mentioned that burgundy color is in highest demand, unlike the orange color of last year's flagship. One person from Kazakhstan, who wished to remain unnamed, plans to take the devices home to sell with a markup. He said he is going on vacation in two days, and since these devices will not be available in his country for some time, he hopes to make a good profit by buying three units.

A few hours after the start of sales, several devices appeared on Dubizzle. One seller listed an iPhone 18 Pro Max in burgundy with 2TB of memory for 13,000 dirhams, while the same item is sold for 10,599 dirhams on the Apple website.

Similar stories

www.khaleejtimes.comSeptember 13, 14:29

Etisalat and du Operators Offer Payment Plans for Pre-ordering iPhone 18 Pro in UAE

As pre-orders begin for the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models across the UAE, with expected availability starting on September 18th, major telecommunications companies du and Etisalat have launched their installment programs.

The new lineup will be available in four colors: black, silver, icy, and a brand new burgundy. Both models feature a reduced and more functional Dynamic Island, along with the A20 Pro chip and a next-generation vapor camera, ensuring the highest stable performance in iPhone history.

Both operators offer customers the option to purchase the devices using various installment plans. Etisalat allows users to pay for the device over 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, and also offers a full upfront payment option. Meanwhile, du provides the option to pay either over 12 or 24 months.

Various price options are available for different storage capacities: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. It is important to note that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are only available for pre-order under postpaid tariffs.

du Tariff Plans

For the 256GB model, the conditions are as follows: 12 months – 426 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 213 AED per month plus 5% VAT. For the 512GB version: 12 months – 496 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 248 AED per month plus 5% VAT. With 1TB capacity: 12 months – 640 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 320 AED per month plus 5% VAT. And for the largest 2TB version: 12 months – 856 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 428 AED per month plus 5% VAT.

Another set of tariffs from du includes: 256GB for 12 months – 458 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 229 AED per month plus 5% VAT. For 512GB: 12 months – 530 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 265 AED per month plus 5% VAT. For 1TB: 12 months – 674 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 337 AED per month plus 5% VAT. And for 2TB: 12 months – 888 AED per month plus 5% VAT; 24 months – 444 AED per month plus 5% VAT. du customers should remember that terminating the offer before the end of the contract will incur an early termination fee for each remaining month.

Etisalat Tariff Plans

Etisalat's offers for 256GB include the following options: 6 months – 850 AED per month; 12 months – 448 AED per month; 18 months – 299 AED per month; 24 months – 225 AED per month, as well as a one-time payment of 5,099 AED. For 512GB: 6 months – 992 AED per month; 12 months – 534 AED per month; 18 months – 361 AED per month; 24 months – 273 AED per month, with the option of full payment for 5,949 AED. For 1TB: 6 months – 1,275 AED per month; 12 months – 687 AED per month; 18 months – 464 AED per month; 24 months – 351 AED per month, or a one-time payment of 7,649 AED. For 2TB: 6 months – 1,700 AED per month; 12 months – 915 AED per month; 18 months – 618 AED per month; 24 months – 469 AED per month, or a full payment of 10,199 AED.

A second set of tariffs from Etisalat includes: 256GB for 6 months – 917 AED per month; 12 months – 480 AED per month; 18 months – 321 AED per month; 24 months – 240 AED per month, as well as a one-time payment of 5,499 AED. For 512GB: 6 months – 1,059 AED per month; 12 months – 570 AED per month; 18 months – 385 AED per month; 24 months – 292.01 AED per month, or 6,349 AED for full payment. For 1TB: 6 months – 1,342.01 AED per month; 12 months – 722 AED per month; 18 months – 488 AED per month; 24 months – 370 AED per month, or 8,049 AED. And for 2TB: 6 months – 1,767 AED per month; 12 months – 951 AED per month; 18 months – 642 AED per month; 24 months – 487 AED per month, or 10,599 AED.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Specifications

The iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display that supports ProMotion technology, Always-On Display, and Dynamic Island, providing a smoother and more interactive user experience. The body is made of aluminum with an Action Button and a camera control for faster access to photo and video tools. Ceramic Shield 2 protection offers three times better scratch resistance and waterproofing up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.

Power is provided by the A20 Pro chip, which includes a 6-core CPU, a 7-core GPU, and advanced neural engines for exceptional performance. Two 16-core neural engines provide powerful on-device AI and machine learning capabilities. The 48MP Pro Fusion camera system includes a main camera with a variable aperture, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 48MP telephoto lens for professional-quality shots. The 18MP Centre Stage front camera allows for high-quality selfies and video calls while keeping the user centered in the frame.

The device features long battery life and fast charging. Video playback time reaches 36 hours, and fast charging can charge up to 50% in about 15 minutes.

For the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, available in burgundy, icy, silver, and black, the starting price is 5,099 AED, and for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it is 5,499 AED. Customers trading in an iPhone 13 or later models can receive an instant credit from 640 to 3,260 AED. Pre-orders for US customers will begin at 4:00 PM UAE time on Saturday, September 12th, with availability starting on Friday, September 18th. In 20 other countries and regions, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available on Friday, September 25th.

Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo, presented as part of Apple's biggest redesign in a decade, will arrive in the UAE on October 23rd, with pre-orders opening on October 16th. The UAE will be one of the first markets to receive this device. Prices start from 8,499 AED and reach 13,599 AED for the highest configuration, positioning the foldable phone in the premium segment of the smartphone market. Apple has also introduced a feature aimed at addressing the growing issue related to AI-generated or altered images.