As pre-orders open for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, some buyers in the UAE are willing to pay up to 2,500 dirhams above the official price to receive the device on launch day.

Pre-orders will open at 4pm UAE time on Friday, October 16, 2026, with the official retail launch scheduled for October 23.

The iPhone Duo will start at 8,499 dirhams in the UAE and will be available in two colours: Starlight White and Midnight Sky.

Strong demand in Dubai’s mobile phone market

Mobile phone retailers in Deira say demand for Apple’s first foldable iPhone is high, with many customers eager to be among the first to buy the device.

Mohiuddin Mustafa of Phone Line in Deira said some customers were willing to pay an additional 2,500 dirhams for immediate access to the phone.

He said demand rises sharply whenever Apple makes a major change to the iPhone’s design, a trend also seen with previous model launches.

Mohammed Mohsen of Gargash Market in Dubai’s Baniyas Square said many prospective buyers of the new model currently use the iPhone 17 Pro Max and have been waiting for Apple’s first foldable phone.

He said the 256GB and 512GB versions were attracting the most interest, while both colours had proved popular.

The retailer predicted that resale prices could remain above the official rate for at least two to three weeks.

Not all Apple fans are rushing to buy

Despite the initial enthusiasm, some users would prefer to wait for later generations of the foldable iPhone.

Abdul Rafiq, a long-time Apple user, said that despite his interest in the iPhone Duo, he did not plan to buy one for himself because it lacks Face ID and he recently purchased an iPhone 18 Pro Max.

However, he plans to place pre-orders for two friends who want to receive the phone on launch day.

⬅️ Important note: The additional 2,500 dirhams reflects a potential resale market premium and is unrelated to Apple’s official retail price.