Hundreds of people queued from the early hours of Friday morning to be among the first to take home the latest iPhone 15 that went on sale at Dubai Mall.
Extra security was drafted in to manage the huge crowds that gathered inside the mall, waiting for shops to open their doors.
Many had already queued to reserve their slot to visit the Apple Store, which opened for a special launch event at 8am.
With each of the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max devices priced from Dh5,099 ($1,388) – it is an expensive passion, although some shoppers were looking to sell on their devices for inflated prices on the secondary market.
Flying in for a phone
Sofia Tarasova, 15, from Moscow, was visiting Dubai with her brother for a week with the main intention of buying Apple products.
“I bought these four iPhones as I want to sell them in Russia,” she said. “The iPhone 15 ProMax will sell for around $4,500 there.
“We can't buy these iPhones in Russia because we have many sanctions and so we come to Dubai to buy.
“Apple is very popular in Russia as well, many people like an iPhone and they are more comfortable using them.”
Each year when Apple launches its latest products there is a huge rush to become the first to pick up the devices that have become a status symbol for some.
Die-hard Apple fans were given a QR code to join the front of the queue, but due to high demand for the devices, they were restricted to buying a maximum of two new phones per person.
The race to be first in line
Sayed Fawas, from Kerala in India, was the first though the doors of the Apple Store in Dubai Mall, a long held ambition for the 34-year-old sales supervisor.
“Every year, I've been trying to become the first person but every year it's very tough for everyone – trying to get in is very difficult,” he said.
“I cannot compare Apple with any other brand of phone, the flexibility, the operating system, everything is totally different.”
Mr Fawas bought two iPhone 15 Pro Max devices for himself and then two more for a friend.
“It's an investment,” he said.
“I already have an iPhone 13 Pro, I have a 14 and I even have 11 Pro.
“I'm very happy but the queue is the biggest and there is a big difference from last year with many more people.”
Shoppers were also queuing at Virgin Megastore and Sharaf DG that were running similar systems for early buyers of the latest devices.
Apple was also launching its latest version of the iWatch.
Crowds gather in Abu Dhabi
Meanwhile at the Galleria Al Maryah Island, a shopping centre in Abu Dhabi, similar queues were building as Apple fans waited in line.
"In my country, iPhones are very expensive because we don’t have any Apple Stores there, and the tax is very high – the difference in price is more than $500,” said Munar Nurkazy, from Kyrgyzstan.
"I arrived yesterday at 12am, I didn't even go to the hotel and went immediately to Galleria Mall.
“It was closed but we stayed outside until they opened the doors."
Like many others, Mr Nurkazy was looking to sell his extra devices for a tidy profit.
"I came for my business as I own an electronic store,” he said.
"Almost all the countries around us don’t have any Apple Stores. That’s why we come here and buy and then sell it on in my country.”
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
