Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable smartphone, opened in the UAE on Friday, but surging demand has already pushed estimated delivery dates for many configurations to late January 2027, roughly three months after the device's official October 23 launch.
The base 256GB model is priced at Dh8,499 in the UAE, while the 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions are listed at Dh9,349, Dh11,049 and Dh13,599 respectively. Customers placing orders this week are seeing estimated delivery windows of around January 22, 2027, for several storage tiers, a sign of how quickly initial stock has been snapped up.
The delays are not unique to the UAE. In the United States, some buyers placing orders through Apple's online store have also been quoted delivery estimates of January 25, 2027, or later, suggesting the shortage is tied to global supply constraints rather than a regional allocation issue.
On the hardware side, the iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch outer display for everyday use and a larger 7.6-inch inner screen that opens up for a tablet-like experience, powered by Apple's new A20 Pro chip. The device marks Apple's long-awaited entry into the foldable phone category, an area where competitors have offered products for several years.
Apple has not disclosed how many units have been allocated to the UAE market, but the scale of the backlog indicates demand has outpaced the company's own expectations for the launch. Industry watchers note that estimated delivery dates shown at checkout can shift as Apple ramps up production, so buyers are advised to check the most current estimate before completing a purchase rather than relying on figures seen earlier in the week.