iPhone fever in Dubai: A look back at years of sale day rush

From the earliest models in the late 2000s to the latest iPhone 16 unveiled this year, the city’s passion for Apple products has only grown stronger, cementing its place as one of the most enthusiastic markets in the region.

Apple enthusiasts line up outside the Apple Store at Dubai Mall to purchase the new iPhone 11 in 2019. Each September, scenes outside flagship Apple stores in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates have become almost ritualistic: hundreds of eager buyers queueing overnight, some even days in advance, to be among the first to own the new device.

Crowds gather during the launch of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at the Apple Store, Dubai Mall, in 2018.

Mr. Bakhit, a UAE national from Abu Dhabi, proudly collects the first online pre-order of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in 2018.

The rush has never been just about the technology—it has been about belonging to a global trend, capturing the prestige of being “first,” and celebrating innovation.

People wait in long queues to buy the iPhone X during its launch at Apple Dubai Mall on November 3, 2017. Over the years, photo after photo has captured the evolution of this frenzy—shoppers carrying fresh boxes with pride, security staff managing serpentine queues, and Apple staff cheering as doors opened at dawn.

These images tell a story not just of a product launch, but of how Dubai has embraced global tech culture while adding its own unique flair.

Hundreds of buyers line up outside the Apple Store at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, to purchase the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on launch day in 2016.

Customers throng the Apple Store at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, during the UAE launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c on November 3, 2013.