It is not an iPad 3 nor is it the iPad HD. Apple launched its new iPad and literally called it “The new iPad”. The new device will hit the stores across the US and Canada on March 16.

However, retailers in the UAE say it would take them just three days more to bring the new device to the UAE. The device would thereby be available in stores in the UAE as early as March 19 to 20.

“Give us three or four days and the next Emirates flight to Dubai from the US would be carrying the new devices to the UAE,” said Bittu Jethani of Sheeba General Trading.

Every time a new iPad or iPhone model is launched, we have managed to ship it to the UAE. “My customers know it and we have already started getting reservations,” Jethani had told Emirates 24|7 a couple of days ago.

The new device is priced at $499 for a WiFi only version. However WiFi plus 4G connectivity would cost $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.

A detailed comparison and spec list of the new device can be found on the Apple website.

Apple has already reduced the price of the older model by $100. The WiFi only model now sells for $399 for 16GB while WiFi+3G now sells for $529 for 16GB.

Prices of the old model had been dropping during the last few weeks in the UAE.

Some electronic shops had already dropped prices between Dh50-Dh100 and were predicting a further drop.

The prices at the local Apple iStore continues to remain the same and a 16GB WiFi only iPad 2 is selling for Dh1599 while a 3G version is priced at Dh2,099 for the 16GB model and Dh2,499 and Dh2,899 for the 32GB and 64GB models.