Some residents of the United Arab Emirates are forced to wait until January 2027 to receive the foldable iPhone Duo from Apple because delivery times have significantly shifted due to growing demand.
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo started on Friday, October 16, at 4:00 PM, although it was initially planned that the device would arrive in stores and reach customers starting October 23. However, residents who tried to reserve the phone on the first day of sales noticed a rapid change in available delivery dates as interest in the product grew.
Emad Hayyam, a financial specialist and resident of the JLT area, reported that delivery dates began shifting almost immediately after pre-orders opened in the UAE. He noted: 'Within a minute, I saw the dates jump week after week. By the time I completed the reservation, the earliest slot I managed to get was in January 2027.'
Despite the long wait, Hayyam placed an order, stating that he would eagerly await receiving the device.
Meanwhile, Osman Malik, a resident of Deira, managed to reserve slots to receive the phone on the first day. He recounted that he acted very quickly as soon as the booking page opened, focusing so intently on placing the order that he barely noticed what was happening around him. 'I managed to book two phones for delivery on October 23,' he shared. When friends and relatives asked him to book phones for them, the delivery date had already shifted to November 23.
Malik expressed happiness about being one of the first buyers of Apple's new foldable phone, noting: 'I am glad I can use it on the first day of delivery.'
Saeed Kazim, another buyer, could not secure an October slot and instead received a November delivery date. He commented on the situation: 'This never happens. Usually, the delivery date shifts forward weekly as slots fill up. This time, it suddenly jumped almost a month.'
He concluded that the sharp change demonstrates high demand for the new Apple model. 'Very few will get it on the first day. Most buyers will only get it after a month, but people are still willing to wait because it is a brand new Apple model.'
For Samira Ali, the phone was intended as a gift from her husband for their wedding anniversary, which was on November 2. She reported that this was the only gift she had been asking for for a long time, and her family placed an order for at least one device together. 'The booking page opened for us at 4:18 PM, but the next available delivery date was only at the end of December,' she said. 'We still ordered it, but I will receive my gift late.'
Samira expressed disappointment that she wouldn't receive it by the anniversary date but was not upset, adding: 'We sincerely thought we could get at least one phone.'
Mobile phone dealers in Dubai suggested that the delays might push some buyers toward the local market, where those needing immediate availability will have to pay extra.
Mudin Mustafa from the Phone Line market in Deira previously stated that some buyers are willing to pay up to 2500 dirhams to receive the iPhone Duo on its release day.