Dubai, September 19, 2026 — The iPhone 18 Pro craze in Dubai has taken an unusual turn after two Indian expats, Raihan and Muhammed Shabeeb, bought 36 of Apple’s latest iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models on the first day of the UAE launch.
The pair spent around Dh400,000 — roughly Rs 1 crore — on the first batch, with orders coming from friends and customers, including people in India.
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Two Indian Expats Turn iPhone 18 Launch Into a Massive Purchase
Raihan and Muhammed have reportedly been buying iPhones for customers and friends for around 14 years. This year’s launch, however, involved an unusually large number of devices.
They had booked 36 phones for the first collection day. Fourteen were picked up from the Apple Store at Dubai Mall before the pair travelled to the Mall of the Emirates for another batch.
The purchase was linked to orders from their network of friends and customers, including buyers in India.
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Overnight Wait Shows the Scale of the Dubai iPhone Rush
The launch demand was strong enough for the two friends to spend the night in their car near Dubai Mall.
They said they were concerned about missing their early collection slot, so they stayed overnight and arrived at the store around 6am.
Their experience reflected the wider rush around the new Pro models, with customers arriving early at Apple stores across Dubai.
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iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Orders Reached 76 Devices
The 36 phones collected on launch day were not the end of the order.
The two friends had arranged another 40 devices for collection the following day, taking their total to 76 iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units across two days.
Khaleej Times reported that their total spending exceeded Dh550,000, with different storage configurations included in the order.
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The launch has also highlighted Dubai’s appeal to international technology buyers.
Reports indicate that some customers travelled from India to the UAE to obtain the latest iPhones, with pricing, availability and the timing of the UAE launch among the factors attracting buyers.
For buyers who want the newest Pro models immediately, Dubai’s large Apple retail network has become an important launch-day destination.
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The launch also created opportunities for people purchasing phones on behalf of others.
According to Khaleej Times, several of the devices bought by Raihan and Shabeeb were sold shortly after launch at premiums, with some buyers willing to pay extra to get the phones immediately.
That has added a resale dimension to what is already a major consumer rush around Apple’s newest Pro models.
What the 36-Phone Purchase Says About Dubai’s Tech Market
The unusual purchase is more than a viral shopping story. It shows how a major global product launch can bring together local consumers, international visitors, overseas customers and resellers in Dubai.
For Raihan and Muhammed, the numbers are particularly striking: 36 devices collected on launch day, followed by another 40 booked for the next day, with total spending reported at more than Dh550,000.
