On the first day of the iPhone Duo launch in the UAE, dealers placed an order for 100 foldable phones, and two buyers, Raihan and Mohammed Shabib, received 42 such devices, paying about 600,000 dirhams for the first batch that arrived on October 23rd.
Raihan and Mohammed Shabib had previously purchased Apple products wholesale since the release of the iPhone 11, accumulating over a thousand devices over the past years. This time, they sourced the phones from various locations, including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Al Ain.
Raihan noted the high demand, stating that people are already selling some devices almost twice as much, and even the 256GB version is selling in the market for approximately 25,000 dirhams. He added that these phones will be in demand not only in the UAE.
Beyond large orders and discussions about resale prices, the atmosphere in the store was shaped by people who had been waiting for years for Apple's foldable phones to be released.
For Artemiy Golovinov, a Russian software engineer residing in Dubai, this device became more than just a screen that folds in half. He saw potential for game developers and a completely new mobile experience. Golovinov believes that the new form factor brings many challenges but also interesting opportunities, especially for gaming startups. He posits that despite the current state of mobile gaming, this phone has the potential to create better games, and he views the Apple Duo as a good step in the right direction.
He mentioned that he had owned only one iPhone before but wanted to see what the new Apple device could offer.
Modin Attar Ghawai, a sales manager from Deira, managed to purchase two phones through persistence, starting the process shortly after 4:00 PM on Friday and succeeding at 4:03 PM. Ghawai reported that he also received an iPhone 18 Pro Max on the first day but emphasized that the iPhone Duo is something entirely new because it is Apple's first foldable phone. He expressed enthusiasm for using the device and exploring Apple's new features, also noting the good camera quality.
For Manoj Lakhiani and Nandini Hingorani, the wait turned into a family affair. They repeatedly tried to order the phones themselves but succeeded thanks to their 11-year-old son. He secured four Apple Duo devices for his parents. The couple shared that they had been waiting for an Apple foldable phone for about two years, constantly wondering when the company would release such a model. When the Apple Duo finally launched, they tried to order it themselves but couldn't until their son placed the order for four devices.
They plan to attend an event next week and feel it is the perfect time to get the phone to 'show off the new device,' as he joked.
At the checkout counter, Zakir Ali and his brother reported being the first customers to receive the phones in the store. The brothers bought six devices in total, including a white 256GB model. Ali stressed that this is something completely new from Apple, distinguished from other phones by being the company's first foldable phone. He also bought an iPhone 18 on launch day but noted that the iPhone Duo is different. He expressed gratitude and joy.
Faisal Rahman, a resident of the UAE originally from Multan, Pakistan, picked up five devices for himself and his family. His order included two 512GB models and three 256GB models in blue and white. Rahman had also purchased the iPhone 14, iPhone 16, and iPhone 18 Pro Max on their respective launch days. He expressed a feeling of immense luck in receiving these devices and great excitement about acquiring the Apple Duo, as it is something completely new from Apple.
From dealer orders of about 100 phones to an 11-year-old child securing four devices for his parents, the launch of the Apple Duo in Dubai brought together collectors, families, early adopters, and buyers determined to be among the first to own Apple's new foldable device.
