Apple Raises Prices in UAE: Impact on Upcoming iPhone 18 Pro

Apple has recently implemented price increases on various products in the United Arab Emirates, a move that suggests the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro series may also experience elevated pricing. The updated prices were reflected on Apple's UAE online store on June 26, with certain items witnessing increases exceeding Dh1,000.

One of the notable changes includes the 13-inch MacBook Air featuring the M5 chip, which was originally priced at Dh4,599 in March but is now listed at Dh5,499. Similarly, the 15-inch MacBook Air has seen a rise from Dh5,499 to Dh6,299. The most significant hike is attributed to the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip, now starting at Dh8,499, compared to an earlier launch price of approximately Dh7,199.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, addressed the rationale behind these price adjustments in a June 17 interview with The Wall Street Journal. He indicated that price increases had become necessary due to soaring costs for memory and storage components. Cook stated, "There's less supply at a time when consumers want devices and the memory guys are passing along huge price increases."

In the week following this statement, Apple announced global price hikes for its MacBook computers, iPads, and other products. Analysts are speculating that these trends might also affect the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. According to Nabila Popal, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at IDC, the potential for significant price increases is substantial. She suggested that the price of the iPhone 18 Pro could rise by as much as $200, a sharp deviation from the more modest annual increases typical in previous years.

If these predictions hold true, pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro may start between $1,249 and $1,299, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could retail between $1,349 and $1,399 prior to local taxes and regional adjustments. For consumers in the UAE, this could result in noticeable price amendments at the time of launch, especially considering Apple's recent wider pricing adjustments.

Should the full increase be reflected in the UAE market, the iPhone 18 Pro could commence at around Dh5,400 to Dh5,500, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max potentially priced between Dh5,800 and Dh5,900. This would render them the priciest mainstream iPhones Apple has marketed in the UAE to date.

In addition to pricing concerns, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to introduce significant technological advancements. Industry analysts, including Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo, have suggested enhancements may include a new A20 Pro chip, larger battery capacities, improved display brightness, a variable-aperture camera system, and enhanced integration of Apple's advanced AI features through the upcoming iOS 27.

While Apple has yet to confirm pricing or detailed specifications for the iPhone 18 series, the trend in rising costs for Macs and iPads in the UAE suggests that prospective buyers of the iPhone 18 may need to brace for higher price points as well.