Reports that the iPhone 18 may be priced higher in the UAE are impacting the local market, with traders noting increased demand, rising prices and limited availability of certain older models.
Reports that the upcoming iPhone 18 could be priced higher in the UAE appear to be influencing the local smartphone market even before its official launch.
Mobile phone traders in local markets said prices of some iPhone 17 models have already increased by Dh200 to Dh300 in recent days. They also noted a sharp rise in customer enquiries, with many buyers rushing to purchase older iPhone models ahead of Apple’s next release.
“A few days ago, the iPhone 17 Pro was selling for around Dh4,700. Now it is around Dh4,900, and there is a chance it could cross Dh5,100 if demand continues,” said Moideen Mustafa from Phoneline in Deira.
He added that used iPhone 17 Pro models are still selling for around Dh4,200, but prices could rise further if demand stays strong.
“The iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) is still around Dh4,000 for now, but we also expect its price to go up,” he said.
According to Moideen, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has become one of the most sought-after models.
“People are enquiring every day since the news about the iPhone 18 broke. Demand has increased significantly, and we even saw a shortage of the iPhone 17 Pro Max a few days ago,” he said.
Another trader, Ashraf Hussain, said demand is likely to remain strong in the coming months.
“Many people believe the iPhone 17 Pro Max will continue to become more expensive until September, before the iPhone 18 launches. After the launch, prices may ease slightly,” he said.
He added that if demand continues at the current pace, some popular models could become harder to find in the local market.
“We may even see shortages because many customers want to buy before the new phone arrives,” he said.
Samad Hassan, a mobile trader at Gargash Market in Deira, said prices of some iPhone 17 models have already increased by Dh200 to Dh300, with the sharpest rise seen in higher-storage variants.
“Some 1TB models have become around Dh300 more expensive. Silver is the most popular colour at the moment, and demand is very high,” he said.
According to Samad, prices in the local market fluctuate almost daily depending on stock availability and demand.
“If stock becomes limited, prices can rise quickly. We expect further increases if demand continues over the coming weeks,” he said.
While traders say Apple has not yet confirmed official pricing for the iPhone 18, many believe speculation about higher prices has already pushed buyers toward the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 series.
For now, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max remain the most in-demand models in Dubai’s smartphone market, with traders expecting prices to stay firm until Apple officially unveils its next-generation device.
