Official Apple stores in the United Arab Emirates, along with several electronics retailers and outlets operated by the two telecommunications companies, began handing over the new iPhone 18 models to customers yesterday, drawing significant consumer interest, with Emirates Today reporting queues of customers who had placed advance reservations at the Apple store in Dubai Mall, where some buyers arrived in the early morning hours several hours before the scheduled start of device distribution, while customers said they had completed their preorders and arrived early to ensure they could collect the new phones as soon as distribution began, with electronics stores and telecommunications outlets also recording strong demand from customers seeking the latest models.

Specialists in telecommunications technology and electronics supply said the strong market demand for the new models was driven by the advanced technologies introduced in the iPhone 18 lineup, in addition to new options and colors, while prices ranged from AED 5,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro to AED 5,499 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max depending on the model and specifications, Consumer Mohammed Shaker said he was among the first customers to collect the new iPhone models from the Apple store at Dubai Mall, explaining that he arrived before 6 a.m. and joined the queue to obtain the devices, adding that he purchased iPhone 18 Pro Max models with different storage capacities for members of his family, while Mohammed Ismail said he bought three iPhone 18 Pro Max devices with storage capacities of up to around 512 gigabytes for family members and friends, choosing the new colors introduced with the latest models.

Consumer Youssef Emad said he purchased the new iPhone models because he wanted to upgrade to higher specifications compared with the phones he currently owns, explaining that he bought two new devices for himself and his wife, and he also said he made sure to join the queue early in the morning so he could receive the phones as soon as distribution began, Meanwhile, Karim Benkiran, Chief Commercial Officer at du, said the company had recorded strong demand for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max across different storage capacities and colors, adding that du began providing the devices yesterday to customers with advance reservations through its various outlets, while noting that the level of demand reflected customers’ interest in the new models and their desire to purchase the phones immediately after their market launch.

Benkiran said this year has brought a different pattern of demand for new smartphone models, with two expected periods of peak interest in the latest iPhone technologies, explaining that the first peak is currently taking place with the launch and distribution of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while another surge is expected when reservations open for the company’s new foldable iPhone Duo phones during October, He added that the strong demand was driven mainly by two factors, with the first being the advanced technologies included in the devices, particularly their cameras, processors, and artificial intelligence technologies, while the second factor was the new colors introduced with the phones, which have attracted considerable interest from many customers.

Mustafa Anan, a sales official at an electronics supply outlet, said stores were experiencing strong demand for the new phones following the completion of advance reservations, with interest increasing after the devices became available to consumers, He explained that the new colors being introduced for the first time, together with the latest technologies, were among the main factors attracting customers, while developments in cooling systems and variable camera technologies were also receiving attention from consumers when making purchasing decisions, Meanwhile, Fouad Abdelzaher, a mobile phone sales official at an electronics store, said demand for the new iPhone models began immediately after they became available, with many customers eager to acquire the latest technologies at an early stage, adding that interest was also linked to changes in several technologies and specifications, including charging capabilities, cooling systems, and imaging technologies, prompting some consumers to replace their existing devices and purchase the latest models as soon as they entered the market.