iPhone 18 Pro first delivery
The first iPhone 18 order has already been delivered, just minutes after the launch.
An Instagram story shared by user Nickster showed their Amazon order arrived within just 10 minutes, marking a remarkably quick start to iPhone 18 Pro deliveries in the UAE.
These Dubai residents bought 36 iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max
Dubai residents Raihan and Muhammed Shabeeb spent the night in the Dubai Mall parking to ensure they reached on time to pick some of the 36 devices they have booked for today.
“We live close by but we were scared we would oversleep,” said Raihan. “So we arrived last night and then made our way to the store around 6.”
The duo have been buying iPhones for the last 14 years. “We have orders from a lot of friends and even people from India,” said Muhammed. “Today we have booked 36 pieces. We picked up 14 from here. The remaining we will pick up from Mall of the Emirates. Tomorrow also we have booked another 40 pieces.”
They said they have spent around Dh400,000 in total on the devices. Despite the hefty outlay, they expect the phones to fetch a premium in the first week, with Raza saying he could make up to Dh5,000 in profit per device.
Expat buys 27 iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max models
Meet Hamid Raza, who has picked up seven iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models from the Dubai Mall Apple Store and is now heading to the Mall of the Emirates to collect another 20.
Raza is among the customers going all out on launch day, with a total of 27 new iPhones lined up for collection across the two Dubai locations.
Younger customers also join the queues
The excitement is not limited to long-time Apple fans, with younger customers also joining the queues to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 18 series.
Among those waiting were 14-year-old Zanish Ayaan and 26-year-old Razq Hamza, showing that the launch-day buzz is drawing Apple fans across generations.
Decades of Apple loyalty
For Egyptian expat Mostafa Said, years of being an Apple user have made launch day something to look forward to. He arrived at Dubai Mall at 6.30am, eager to be among the first to pick up his new burgundy-coloured iPhone 18 Pro.
Said, who has been using Apple products for decades, said he was excited to finally get his hands on the brand-new device — with its distinctive new colour making the upgrade even more special.
First person in last year’s queue
After being the first person to collect an iPhone at last year’s launch, Mohammed Shakka returned early this year to do it all over again. This time, he is picking up two phones — one for himself and another as a gift.
Here’s a photo of Shakka being the first in line at last year’s queue:
‘Too excited to sleep’
For Pakistani expat Hamid Raza, the excitement of getting his hands on the new iPhone 18 Pro started long before sunrise.
He left home at 4.30am to make sure he would be at Dubai Mall in time to collect one of the first devices on launch day. This year marks the first time he has managed to secure a Day 1 pickup — and the excitement kept him awake.
iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max are here!
The doors are open, and the first iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max customers were welcomed at the Apple Store in Dubai Mall.
Inside, excitement is easy to spot.
Some customers eagerly check out the new models, turning the phones over in their hands and taking in the latest devices for the first time. Others beam with wide smiles as they hold up their new iPhones, marking the start of their upgrade journey.
First in line
For Mohammed Shaka, being first in line is becoming an Apple launch tradition. He arrived at Dubai Mall at 5.45am, travelling from BurJuman to be among the first customers waiting for the new iPhone 18 Pro models.
This isn’t his first Apple launch, either. Shaka says he has lined up for every Apple launch — making today’s wait another chapter in a tradition he clearly enjoys.
Mohammed Shaka
For Shaka, being first in line paid off. Shaka was the first customer through the doors, greeted by cheers and applause from Apple Store staff as he entered to collect his new iPhone.
Apple Store welcomes first iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max customers
Cheers and applause fill the air as Apple Store staff prepare to open the doors and welcome the first customers eager to get their hands on the new iPhone 18 series.
Check out the video below:
Apple store in Dubai Mall all set to sell iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max
The doors are ready, the staff are in position and the shelves are set.
At the Apple Store in Dubai Mall, preparations are complete as employees gear up to welcome customers eager to get their hands on the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max colours
The new iPhone lineup comes in four colours — black, silver, glacier and the all-new burgundy — giving UAE shoppers a mix of familiar shades and a new finish.
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max feature a smaller Dynamic Island, the A20 Pro chip and a next-generation vapour chamber designed to deliver improved sustained performance.
In case you missed it: There’s no base-model iPhone 18
If you missed Apple’s launch event on September 9, here’s one important detail — there is no standard, base-model iPhone 18 this year.
Apple has reportedly split its iPhone launch into two parts, with the non-Pro model expected to arrive in spring 2027.
So if you were waiting for the most affordable new iPhone, you’ll have to wait another six months.
One last scroll before the upgrade
Khaleej Times’ Shihab captured customers queuing outside the Apple Store at Dubai Mall, with some checking their phones as they wait to get their hands on the new iPhone 18 Pro models.
For some, it could be their last scroll on an old device before making the switch.
Can residents just walk in and buy the new iPhones?
Not on launch day.
Just like last year, Apple is not offering walk-in purchases at its UAE stores today.
Customers who pre-ordered their devices for in-store pickup will receive an email confirming when and where they can collect their iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. They will have one week from the availability date to pick it up.
However, an Apple customer service agent earlier told Khaleej Times that additional devices may become available at stores after Friday, once all pre-ordered units have been handed out.
Is a trade-in option available?
Yes.
For those looking to trade in their current phone, Apple is also offering trade-in credit ranging from Dh160 to Dh3,260, depending on the device.
A customer uses her bank card to pay for a new iPhone
How much will iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max cost?
While we’re still waiting for stores to open, here’s a look at how much the new iPhone 18 Pro models will cost in the UAE.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Dh5,099 for the 256GB model, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Dh5,499. Both models offer storage of up to 2TB, with the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro priced at Dh10,199 and the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max at Dh10,599.
iPhone 18 Pro Pro Max
iPhone 18 UAE: Pro, Pro Max sell out on strong pre-order demand
After days of anticipation and a strong pre-order response, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are officially making their way into stores across the UAE this morning.
Retailers told Khaleej Times’s Business Editor Waheed Abbas that the demand for the two premium models has exceeded expectations, echoing the strong appetite for Apple’s top-end iPhones seen during previous launches.
Now, the excitement moves from online pre-orders to store counters, as customers line up to get their hands on the latest devices.
iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max launch in UAE today!
The wait is almost over!
In just a few hours, Apple’s latest flagship phones will officially hit stores across the UAE, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max set to launch today.
As eager shoppers wait to get their hands on the latest upgrade, Khaleej Times will be on the ground bringing you the latest updates, launch-day buzz, and first reactions from UAE stores.
Stay with us as the new iPhones officially arrive across the UAE.
Source: Khaleej Times