Dubai’s launch of the Apple Duo on October 23 attracted buyers from Russia and Central Asia, with some travelling thousands of kilometres to secure the new foldable phone before taking it back to their home countries.
For Uzbek businessman Muhammad Ismailov, the launch was a business opportunity worth an international trip. He arrived in Dubai on Wednesday, October 21, with his brothers and planned to return home within three or four days carrying seven devices for his phone shop.
Ismailov estimated that flights, accommodation and other expenses would cost around Dh8,000.
“I have a phone shop in Uzbekistan, so I will take the seven devices back and sell them there,” he said. “We came specifically looking for these phones because there is already a lot of interest in Apple Duo.”
He was among several international visitors at Dubai Mall on launch day, as customers from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sought to obtain the device before it became available in their domestic markets.
For Saimon, who travelled from Russia with his mother, securing the phone early was the main priority. The pair arrived in Dubai a day before the launch and were waiting for their collection appointment, with plans to purchase four devices before returning home.
“My mother and I came from Russia to Dubai mainly to buy Apple Duo,” Saimon said. “We are waiting for our slot now and plan to buy four phones today.”
He said he was excited about becoming one of the first people in Russia to use the device, describing Apple’s first foldable phone as a product he wanted to obtain as soon as possible.
Other visitors viewed the launch as a chance to benefit from demand in their home markets.
Shaukath, from Kazakhstan, had booked four Apple Duo phones on the first day and was continuing to search for additional units. He estimated that his flight and accommodation in the UAE would cost about Dh3,500.
“I managed to book four, but I am still looking for more because demand back home is strong,” Rahimov said. He added that he expected the potential profit to be around 10 times his travel and accommodation expenses, making the trip worthwhile.
Not every buyer intended to resell the phones. Abdullah, another visitor from Uzbekistan, collected three devices for family members and used a video call at the mall to show them their purchases.
“They are very excited, so I wanted to show them the phones straight away,” he said. “They wanted to see Apple’s new foldable phone as soon as possible, and I am happy that I could get them for them.”
Abdullah arrived in Dubai on October 22 and planned to return to Uzbekistan two days later.
The visitors had different reasons for travelling, ranging from stocking retail shops to buying gifts for relatives. Their journeys nevertheless reflected strong early interest in the new device and the appeal of securing it at launch rather than waiting for availability at home.
For Dubai, the international turnout also highlighted the city’s role as a destination for shoppers seeking newly released technology products.
