Dubai: Retailers and telco operators in the UAE have started selling the new iPhones – 6S and 6S Plus – from Saturday at 12.01am at major malls and outlets.
There is no stock shortage expected as the country has got enough inventories from Apple to meet the demand.
Samer Majzoub, Vice President for premium devices at du, said that they have got more than 2,000 pre-bookings for post-paid plans and some for standalone devices.
"As the demand is high, we had to open 18 outlets in the UAE to cater to the demand. Previously we had planned to open only our two flagship stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," he said.
When it comes to post-paid plans, he said that du performs much better than other operators.
For the first time, all the retailers in the UAE are getting the supplies directly from Apple. Usually it used to be through telco operators.
Almost 100 people were standing in the queue for the device at 11.30pm in front of du's office at Dubai Media City in bid to become the first to get hold on the device.
Du had separate queues for pre-booked and over-the-counter sales. The crowd started getting bigger close to 12am.
Majzoub said the store will be open for 24 hours. He said the demand is more for iPhone 6S.
At Dubai Mall, around 30 people have started queuing up at Jumbo Electronics and Emax. The stores will be open for two to two-and-a-half hours.
Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group, said that they got more than 500 pre-orders with 100 per cent cash in advance, apart from the loyal customers from whom they haven’t collected any advance.
Both the retailers as well as the telco operators have started accepting pre-orders a couple of days back and they also sold not only to pre-ordered customers but also on over-the-counter sales during the midnight launch. “We have got enough stocks and the stocks are already with us directly from Apple,” he said.
Retailers will open their outlets for midnight launch for about two to two-and-a-half hours.
On October 10, the phones will also be available in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Apple will be selling the iPhone 6S for Dh2,599 for the 16GB model, Dh2,999 for the 64GB model and Dh3,399 for the 128GB model. iPhone 6S Plus for Dh2,999 for the 16GB model, Dh3,399 for the 64GB model and Dh3,799 for the 128GB model.
The devices will be available in gold, silver, space grey and the new rose gold metallic finishes.
Apple said that its designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colours and Lightning Docks in colour-matched metallic finishes are also available.
Etisalat is selling the standalone iPhone 6S for Dh2,699 (16GB), Dh3,099 (64GB) and Dh3,499 (128GB). The iPhone 6S Plus will be available at Dh3,099 (16GB), Dh3,499 (64GB) and Dh3,899 (128GB).
Etisalat’s website showed that 6S Plus (128GB) is already sold out.
Du is selling the iPhone 6S for Dh2,749 (16GB), Dh3,149 (64GB), Dh3,599 (128GB). The iPhone 6S Plus will be available at Dh3,149 (16GB), Dh3,599 (64GB) and Dh3,999 (128GB).
