The iPhone 5 has been available in the UAE’s grey market since almost the same day it has been available in the US.

Despite all its defects and disadvantages, what has been holding back the country’s Apple buffs from playing with their new toy is the unavailability of the nano-SIM that can make it come alive. 

After what must have been 12 agonising days for the Apple aficionado, the UAE’s telecom operator du has finally announced that the much-yearned-for nano-SIM is now available in all its stores from today (October 3, 2012). 

“We are thrilled to offer our customers the latest SIM card technology, which can be used in newly-released smartphones,” Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du, said in a media statement.

Errr... 'newly-released smartphones'? It’s called the iPhone 5, Farid, and it is the only one yet that uses the nano-SIM. 

Nevertheless, credit where it is due – du has indeed drawn first blood by launching the nano-SIM ahead of its competitor, etisalat. 

“du is pleased to inform its customers that it is the first to stock nano-SIM cards, which will be available from all du Shops from Wednesday, 3 October,” the Dubai-based service provider said in a media statement. 

That is sweet music to Apple fans, who will no doubt be queuing up at du stores today to get their hands on the nano-SIM. 

Not that the true fan was waiting anyway. As this website has reported earlier,ingenious ways of turning traditional and micro-SIMs to nano-SIM cards have already emerged – from customised nano-SIM cutters to do-it-yourself kitchen-knife procedures. 

But now that the legitimate version is available, many more customers are expected to go for Apple’s new smartphone even as the company is yet to announce an iPhone 5 launch date for its Middle Eastern fans. 

du, on the other hand, will be hoping to leverage the opportunity to steering some of etisalat’s existing clients into its fold through the nano-SIM bait. 

“New and existing customers wishing to get to a nano-SIM card can do so. The process is simple, quick and convenient and can be completed in less than five minutes,” it urged the general public.

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