Dubai: Although VAT has already taken effect, UAE’s smartphone users looking for an upgrade can continue to enjoy some huge savings on a number of gadgets, including iPhone and Samsung models.
Etisalat had earlier slashed the prices of a number of products by up to 60 per cent, and shoppers still have until the end of this month to bag some bargains.
Discounted units up for grabs include iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Samsung Galaxay S8 and S8+, Huawei and many more, with other less popular units being offered for less than Dh500.
The annual device sale ends on January 31, and it has so far received “phenomenal” response from shoppers, according to Etisalat.
A source at the company said most units that are selling fast are HTC 10 Android smartphones, each with a VAT-inclusive price of Dh949, which is 60 per cent off the regular rate.
Also being snapped up fast are Samsung phones that come bundled with a VR gear, offering budget shoppers a chance to save up to Dh600. Apple’s AirPods that are selling for Dh100 cheaper are also popular.
The UAE market has a huge appetite for mobile phones, especially Android and iPhone models. As of June 2017, almost nine in ten handsets registered on the local networks were smartphones.
According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Samsung continues to dominate the market, with 34.5 per cent of all handsets registered on mobile networks carrying the South Korean label, as of the second quarter of 2017.
Nokia handsets were the second-most popular manufacturer, with a presence of 22.9 per cent, followed by Apple, with a share of 15.5 per cent, Lenovo (5.4 per cent) and Huawei (3.2 per cent).
