Traders say prices of some iPhone 17 models in the UAE market have already risen by Dh200 to Dh300.
Many consumers expect older iPhone models to become cheaper as Apple prepares to launch a new generation. However, market trends do not always follow that pattern.
Mobile traders in Dubai’s Deira market said prices of previous iPhone models can sometimes increase in the weeks leading up to a new launch. They explained that this usually happens when more buyers choose to purchase the existing models rather than wait for the upcoming release, creating higher demand while available stocks become limited.
Traders say a similar trend is emerging now. Following reports that the upcoming iPhone 18 could launch at a higher price in the UAE, some iPhone 17 models have already seen price increases of around Dh200 to Dh300 in the local market.
A few days ago, the iPhone 17 Pro was selling for around Dh4,700, but prices have now climbed to about Dh4,900, according to Moideen Mustafa of Phoneline in Deira. He said prices could rise further and potentially cross Dh5,100 if demand remains strong.
He added that used iPhone 17 Pro models are currently selling for around Dh4,200, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) is available for approximately Dh4,000. However, he expects prices of both models to increase if buying interest continues.
“People are enquiring every day. Since reports about a more expensive iPhone 18 started circulating, demand has increased sharply. The iPhone 17 Pro is currently the most sought-after model, and some units were already in short supply a few days ago,” he said.
Traders said this is not the first time such a trend has been seen in the UAE market. Similar demand patterns were observed before the launches of the iPhone 6, iPhone X, iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 series, when many customers chose to buy the current generation instead of waiting for the next model, pushing prices higher.
However, traders noted that the opposite trend has also occurred before some launches. Ahead of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13, prices of new and used devices gradually declined as retailers cleared existing inventory ahead of newer models.
“The market changes every year. Sometimes customers wait for the new iPhone, which pushes prices down. At other times, they fear the next model will be more expensive and rush to buy the current one, driving prices higher,” said Ashraf, another mobile trader in Deira.
He expects demand for the iPhone 17 Pro Max to remain strong until the iPhone 18 launch. If current buying patterns continue, prices could keep increasing until September, with possible shortages of popular models as customers look to purchase before the new release.
Traders also highlighted the unusual conditions seen after the Covid-19 pandemic, when supply chain disruptions and limited availability pushed up prices of several iPhone models even after launch.
Samad Hassan, a mobile trader at Gargash Market in Deira, said prices in the local market can change almost daily depending on demand and stock levels.
“Some iPhone 17 models have already become Dh200 to Dh300 more expensive. The biggest increase has been seen in certain 1TB models. Silver is currently the most in-demand colour, and demand remains very high,” he said.
He added that if supplies tighten in the coming weeks, prices of both new and used iPhones could continue to rise.
Although Apple has not yet announced official pricing for the iPhone 18, traders said the current market trend shows that older iPhones do not always become cheaper ahead of a new launch.
