Strong demand in the UAE for Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has left some buyers waiting until January 2027 to receive the device, although its official launch is scheduled for October 23.

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo opened at 4pm on Friday, October 16, but delivery dates changed rapidly within minutes, slipping from October to November, December and even January 2027.

Emad Khayyam, a resident of Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers, said delivery estimates began slipping by a week at a time just one minute after pre-orders opened. By the time he completed his purchase, the earliest available delivery date was January 2027. Despite the long wait, he placed the order.

In contrast, Othman Malik, a Deira resident, managed to order two iPhone Duo devices for delivery on October 23, the first day of release. However, when he tried to place additional orders for friends and relatives, the earliest delivery date had shifted to November 23.

Syed Kazem, another buyer, was also unable to secure an October delivery slot, and his order was scheduled for November. He said delivery dates usually move back gradually, week by week, as order capacity fills up, but this time the estimated delivery was suddenly delayed by nearly a month.

Samira Ali, who was due to receive the iPhone Duo from her husband as a wedding anniversary gift on November 2, said the earliest available delivery date was in late December when she accessed the pre-order system at 4.18pm. Despite the delay, her family placed the order.

Surging demand for the iPhone Duo could drive some buyers to Dubai’s secondary mobile phone market, where securing the device immediately may come at a premium.

Mobile phone retailers in Dubai say some customers are willing to pay above the official price to obtain the device on launch day.

Mohieddin Mustafa of Phone Line in Deira Market previously said some buyers were prepared to pay up to Dh2,500 extra for immediate access to the iPhone Duo.