Those placing orders for Apple's first-generation foldable iPhone through UAE retailers have been advised that delivery timelines on the handset — due to go on sale 23 October — may extend well beyond the launch window into 2026.
Shoppers who navigated Apple's UAE online store to place a pre-order for the iPhone Duo encountered a checkout screen listing 22 January 2027 as the expected delivery window — a date falling roughly three months beyond the handset's official launch. That figure surfaced during a single checkout session and is subject to change depending on the model, storage option, and stock levels.
Customers who submitted orders before the change took effect may find the new terms do not extend to their purchases. Pre-orders for the UAE went live on Friday, 16 October, with the territory joining a broader group of markets entering the buying window at the same time.
Across the Atlantic, purchasers in the United States encountered comparable postponements, with projected arrival windows stretching out almost from the moment pre-orders went live. Pre-order availability on the device ran out fast, with one tech outlet noting that estimated delivery had slipped to January 2027 before the first few minutes of ordering had elapsed.
Across every colour option and storage tier checked that Friday morning, the earliest delivery window shown had shifted out to 25 January 2027 or beyond — with the clock reading 8:30 a.m. Eastern when those figures were noted.
Delays showing up in new-order data are what the figures on record point toward. Those who finalised their orders at an earlier point stood a better chance of receiving a delivery window aligned with the originally announced date.
No breakdown of iPhone Duo unit allocations — whether for the UAE or other territories — has been published by the company, leaving the full extent of the delivery disruptions unclear.
Priced from Dh8,499, the 256GB configuration of the iPhone Duo marks the entry point into the range. Buyers choosing the 512GB option will pay Dh9,349, with the 1TB configuration carrying a Dh11,049 tag and the 2TB version reaching Dh13,599.
Folded out to 7.6 inches, the handset drops to a 4-inch outer panel when closed and draws its processing power from Apple's A20 Pro chip. Folded shut, the device behaves like any standard smartphone, yet opening it reveals a broader screen suited to video playback, extended reading, and handling several tasks at once.
No revision to the October 23 rollout date in the UAE has been announced by Apple. Placing an order by that date does not mean every buyer will receive their item on time.
Before finalising a purchase through Apple's web store, shoppers based in the UAE can view an anticipated delivery window tied to whichever product configuration they have chosen. Those who have already submitted a purchase can track delivery timing and current progress by logging into their Apple account or pulling up the original order confirmation. Quoted delivery windows are subject to revision as order processing and stock availability information are updated by Apple.
