The PlayStation 5 Slim and the PlayStation Portal, Sony's newest consoles. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
The PlayStation 5 Slim and the PlayStation Portal, Sony's newest consoles. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
The PlayStation 5 Slim and the PlayStation Portal, Sony's newest consoles. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
The PlayStation 5 Slim and the PlayStation Portal, Sony's newest consoles. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment

When will the PlayStation 5 Slim and Portal go on sale in the UAE?


Faisal Salah
  • English
  • Arabic

PlayStation fans are bracing themselves for two new consoles.

The PlayStation 5 Slim is a smaller version of the original, while the PlayStation Portal is a handheld device that allows players to connect and play their PlayStation 5 from anywhere via Wi-Fi.

The PlayStation Portal is available to buy in the US, Japan and select markets in Europe from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the sale of the PlayStation 5 Slim has been staggered, with customers in the US already able to buy one. It is expected to be rolled out in other markets over the coming weeks.

No date has been confirmed yet for when they will go on sale in the UAE.

PlayStation 5 Slim

The Slim has two versions: one with a disc drive and one without. Photo: Sony
The Slim has two versions: one with a disc drive and one without. Photo: Sony

A modified and slimmed-down version of the widely popular PlayStation 5, which has sold more than 40 million units since its release in 2020, the PlayStation 5 Slim arrives in two different versions. The model with a disc drive will cost $499.99 while a digital version with no disc drive will cost $449.99.

They can do everything the original PlayStation 5 can, presumably in a more agile and nimble manner, too.

The digital version of the console will also have the option of attaching a disc drive, for an additional $79.99.

Initially only available in the US, other countries and regions are expected to sell them over the next two months.

For gamers in the UAE hoping to get their hands on one, the only viable option is purchasing one from the US and paying the exorbitant shipping costs, or waiting until it’s available with official retailers in the country.

PlayStation Portal

The portable console from Sony has drawn both ire and excitement from gamers.

A paradox of a gadget, it is both an interesting innovation and a needless appendage, depending on different points of view.

The Portal, which was named Project Q when it was unveiled in May, initially enticed fans, who thought Sony would finally return to the portable console market.

However, the console appears to be little more than a handheld television that needs a PlayStation 5 to stream games.

The official announcement for the Portal says it will be available in the following countries from Wednesday: the US, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canada and Japan.

Gamers in other countries, including the UAE, will have to wait for the console to arrive within the next two months, or order from one of the countries mentioned above.

The Portal will cost $199.99.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

The Bio

Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees  (oats with chicken) is one of them

Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.

Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results

During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks

Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy

Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm

Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm

Persuasion
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

Abu Dhabi racecard

5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Result

Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2

Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)

Updated: November 15, 2023, 2:02 PM