Apple Watch arrives in Dubai; first sells for Dh5,000

Apple Watch has unofficially arrived here in the UAE. Listings on various classifieds sites have priced the device at around Dh3,700 to Dh5,000 for an Apple Watch Sports Edition.

However, retailers say the demand at this price level has been weak. “For now he demand is lukewarm. People do not want to pay such premiums,” said Omar Kassim of online retailer JadoPado.

The retailer has listed the Sport edition Apple Watch 38mm with silver aluminium case with white sport band for Dh3,679, while several listings on classifieds range between Dh3,999 to Dh5,000.

Another retailer who has listed the product on Dubizzle said the 42mm white coloured sports edition is priced at Dh5,700. “I have about four units available now ready for pick up,” he said.

When asked about the other models, he said, “We are expecting more stocks to come in by this evening or tomorrow morning,” he said.

“We sold our first Apple Watch yesterday. It was listed by a third party retailer and went for Dh5,000,” added Kassim.

With Apple deciding to retail the Watch only at select fashion retail outlets and only to pre-ordered customers, availability has been limited.

Most of the devices entering the UAE are through those in the US and other markets who have pre-ordered it.

“What that means is that stocks coming into the market are those that were pre-ordered. Yesterday we saw the pricing start at around $1400, by evening it had moved to $1100. This morning we are seeing it fall further to $870,” said Kassim.

“So there are very little margins that we can pass on to the customer,” he said.

Officially Apple Watch is available in three collections, Apple Watch Sport, priced at $349 (Dh1,281) and $399 (Dh1,465); Apple Watch, available from $549 (Dh2,016) to $1,099 (Dh4,036); and Apple Watch Edition, starting at $10,000 (Dh36,729).

Majority of the stocks are only coming into UAE on Sunday. “We are yet to receive our shipment. It should be here by the end of the day or by tomorrow,” said Kassim.

Apple has started retailing the products in select fashion outlets in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US.

Apple has still not officially announced when it plans to launch the watch in the UAE.

There have been reports mainly emerging out of Italy – a country that was not part of the official launch that Apple could begin the second round on May 8. UAE and Saudi Arabia in all probability could be part of the second round.

Last year, when Apple launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Italy was part of the second round of countries where the devices were launched. Along with Italy were UAE and several other markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.