Resellers buy 42 iPhone Duo units for Dh600,000 on Dubai launch day

Two resellers, Raihan and Mohammed Shabeeb, collected 42 units of Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo on the first day of its Dubai launch, paying close to Dh600,000. They had booked 100 devices in total and were picking up their initial batch at Dubai Mall on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Bulk buyers and resale market

Raihan and Shabeeb have been buying Apple products in bulk since the iPhone 11 came out, having taken delivery of more than 1,000 devices over the years. They collected phones from several locations, including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Al Ain.

“The demand is too high right now. People are already selling some devices at around double the price. Even the 256GB version is going for around Dh25,000 in the market. These phones will go everywhere, not only stay in the UAE,” Raihan said.

Beyond the bulk orders and talk of resale values, the launch drew a mix of long-time Apple fans and first-time buyers eager to own the company’s first foldable phone.

A developer’s perspective

Artemii Golovinov, a Russian software engineer living in Dubai, said the device offered more than just a folding screen. He saw potential for game developers and a fresh mobile experience. “It is basically a brand-new experience for users,” Golovinov said. “With a new form factor come a lot of challenges, but also interesting opportunities, especially for gaming start-ups. The state of mobile gaming is not great at the moment, but I think there is potential for better games on this phone. I see Apple Duo as a good try and a step in the right direction.”

He added that he had owned only one iPhone before but wanted to test what Apple’s new device could do.

Family affair and first customers

Moideen Athar Gawai, a sales executive from Deira, managed to secure two phones within three minutes of trying. He began booking shortly after 4pm on Friday and succeeded at 4.03pm. “I also received the iPhone 18 Pro Max on its first day, but this is something very new because it is Apple’s foldable phone,” Gawai said. “I am excited to use it and see what different features Apple has added. The camera clarity also looks very good.”

For Manoj Lakhiani and Nandini Hingoranee, the wait became a family effort. After repeatedly failing to book the phones themselves, their 11-year-old son succeeded where they could not, securing four devices for his parents. “We have been waiting for Apple’s foldable phone for around two years,” the couple said. “Every time a new iPhone launched, we kept wondering when Apple would finally bring out a foldable model. When Apple Duo was finally launched, we tried to book it ourselves but could not get through. Our 11-year-old son managed to book four devices for us.”

They are attending a gathering next week and said the timing was perfect. “Now I can flaunt my new device,” the husband said in a joking manner.

At the handover counter, Zakir Ali and his brother said they were the first customers to receive the phones at the store. They bought six devices in total, including a white 256GB model. “This is something completely new from Apple,” Ali said. “It is different from other phones because it is Apple’s first foldable phone. I bought the iPhone 18 on its launch day too, but this is different. Alhamdulillah, I am very happy.”

Faisal Rahman, a UAE resident originally from Multan, Pakistan, collected five devices for himself and his family. His order included two 512GB models and three 256GB models in blue and white. He had also bought the iPhone 14, iPhone 16 and iPhone 18 Pro Max on their respective launch days. “I feel absolutely lucky to get them,” said Rahman. “I am very, very excited to get Apple Duo because it is something completely new from Apple.”

From resellers booking around 100 phones to an 11-year-old securing four for his parents, Apple Duo’s Dubai launch drew collectors, families, early adopters, and buyers determined to be among the first to hold Apple’s new foldable device.