Du announces deal with Apple to bring new iPhone to the UAE first

Dubai: Mobile telephone operator du will be the first to bring Apple's iPhone 3GS to the UAE. The device — as well as the "old" iPhone — will be available by the end of October to "qualifying customers", the company said yesterday in a statement, without explaining what "qualifying" means in this respect.

From Saturday, customers can pre-book an iPhone at du's online shop or at authorised retail outlets.

With the announcement one day prior to the opening of the Gitex Shopper exhibition, du was quicker than rival etisalat, which has also announced it will bring the iPhone 3GS to the UAE, but has not named a date yet.

Etisalat launched the "old" iPhone in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February this year and said it could attract about 30,000 customers.