Dubai resident brings 53 iPhones to collect new Apple Duo devices

A Dubai resident arrived at the Apple Store on Friday morning carrying 53 iPhones from his personal collection as he picked up two new Apple Duo devices. Mohammed Shakaa, originally from Karachi, brought devices ranging from the first-generation iPhone to the iPhone 18 Pro Max after Apple staff contacted him the previous day and asked him to bring his collection along.

Passion displayed at home

For Shakaa, collecting iPhones is a personal challenge rather than keeping old gadgets in storage. He displays the devices at home, often with one or two colour variants of the same model.

“iPhone collection is my hobby, and it is also a challenge for me,” Shakaa said. “I have almost the whole iPhone collection, from the first generation until the iPhone 18 Pro Max. In some models, I have one or two phones in different colours. I keep them displayed at home.”

He said he owns only a handful of phones from other brands, including Motorola and Samsung devices. “My real interest has always been Apple.”

“I am a die-hard Apple fan,” he said. “With every generation, you see something changing: the camera, touch, battery, operating system and many other things. I have experienced those changes over the years, and that is why I love it.”

Three-year wait for foldable device

Shakaa said he had been following rumours about Apple’s foldable phone for more than three years. When the iPhone 18 series was announced, he said he was already more curious about what would come next.

“When Apple Duo bookings opened, I got the chance to book it,” he said. “I had been waiting for it for more than three years. There were only rumours before, but finally it is here. Today, I am very happy to receive it.”

Hat-trick of first-in-line launches

He said the launch also completed a personal “hat-trick”. For three years in a row, he has been among the first people in line for a major Apple launch.

“For the past three years, it has been back to back, and today my hat-trick is complete,” he said. “Now I want other people to get an opportunity as well. I have done what I wanted to do, and I do not want others to feel disappointed.”

His next target is much bigger than being first outside a Dubai store. Shakaa hopes Apple will one day take him to California for one of its launch events.

“I want to go to California for Apple’s next launch and be number one there,” he said. “I want to represent myself and show them how far my craze for these phones has gone.”