Apple to launch iPhone 5 in UAE on Friday; likely to be priced at half going market rate

Apple is finally launching its iPhone 5 in the UAE on Friday, December 7, with price likely to be the same as the current iPhone 4S. The launch will force local retailers to slash their prices by around Dh2,000.

Local retailers are currently selling 16GB iPhone 5 between Dh3,000 to Dh4,000 while Apple is expected to launch at around Dh2,200. The iPhone 4S is also currently being sold in the local market at the same rate..

A media release from Apple today said the phone will be launched in more than 50 additional countries including South Korea, Brazil and Russia on Friday, December 7.

The official UAE launch comes more than two months after the initial launch in the US and other markets. The iPhone 5 was first launched in seven markets on September 21. It was then launched in 47 other markets including India on November 2. Last week, Apple said that the new phone will be available for sale in China on December 14.

However most electronic stores in the UAE started selling the iPhone5 within weeks after the initial launch. iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, featuring an A6 chip and an improved battery life.