Is it worth buying an iPhone in Dubai? iPhone prices in Dubai. Buying an iPhone in Dubai online. Purchase at the iPhone mall. Bringing an iPhone across the border
There are no taxes in the UAE, so it is profitable to buy equipment there, and, given the huge number of shopping centers, it is also convenient. So I decided without any hesitation to buy my first iPhone in Dubai.
iPhone prices in Dubai
The difference in the price of Apple equipment with Ukraine is very significant. So, my iPhone 7 Plus with a maximum memory of 256 gigabytes cost UAH 28,500, while on the day of purchase its price in all Ukrainian stores averaged UAH 36,000 thousand.
What does “iPhone without Facetime” mean?
When buying an iPhone in the Emirates, you will see the “with/without Facetime” label next to each gadget. What does this mean? The fact is that the use of applications for audio and video calls is prohibited in the UAE (you cannot just pick up and call via Whatsapp), so all iPhones that are shipped to authorized resellers do not come with the Facetime application. And it’s not so easy to find an international version with facetime on the shelves (at the same time, I note that local iPhones without facetime are 30-50 dollars cheaper, though I don’t really want to bother with jailbreak)
Buying an iPhone in Dubai online
I ordered my gadget at crazydeals.com (you can also see prices for all models there). I indicated the delivery date to them, and a couple of days before it, specified the place and time through the support service. As a result, the courier brought my phone directly to the hotel.
I chose this store because it was willing to deliver to a customer without a local phone number. Other sites where I found the price cheaper always required a local number to contact.
When ordering, you can choose a payment method, including a bank card upon receipt. If you decide to pay in cash, you can even pay in dollars and, by the way, at a good rate.
We kept in touch with the courier via whatsapp and he spoke good English. My friend, who also decided to order a phone for himself, was delivered the gadget the next day, despite the fact that they have a standard delivery time of 3-5 days.
shopping in the mall
Another way to buy an iPhone in the UAE is through regular stores and malls. There is an Apple brand store in Dubai, it is located in the Mall of Emirates, but today they have no “pluses” for sale, and they will appear only in a month. At the same time, the price of gadgets in Applestore is the lowest and matches the price of the site.
At the same time, the phone is easy to buy elsewhere. For example, Dubai Mall, which is located next to Burj Khalifa, has an authorized Apple reseller – iStyle store. The prices there are actually the same as on the Apple website, although all gadgets are local, that is, without Facetime.
And, of course, all the malls are full of small shops, islands selling Apple products. They have all models, but the price is the highest.
Bringing an iPhone across the border
In order not to talk for a long time, I’ll write this: if you carry 1-2 iPhones for yourself, there will be no problems. But I would still advise you to print it out and carry the gadget in your hand luggage, and the box from it separately, in your luggage. Because formally even 1 sealed iPhone must be declared. And so you can always say that these are personal things.