The opening of official Apple retail outlets in the UAE will help to grow the overall market for its products, resellers said.
A Dubai outlet in Mall of Emirates, previously expected to open as early as the end of September, has now been pushed back at least a month, according to industry sources. A second location in The Dubai Mall and an Abu Dhabi store are also in the works.
Apple resellers, such as Plug-Ins and E-City, rather than taking the delay as a stay of execution, say they are instead looking forward to the arrival of the California company as an event that could play into their hands.
Apple’s iPhone models account for 18 to 20 per cent of Plug-Ins’ mobile sales, and its general manager expects that figure to rise once the official Apple stores begin to open.
"An Apple store opening creates excitement, entertainment and brilliant PR for all Apple products," said Sean Connor. "I ran an electronics chain in London when the Apple store opened, and it drove the amount of Apple product [our stores] sold up, not down. I am sure people will want to visit the store in Dubai, but they won't necessarily want to buy from the store."
Bloomberg reported this week that Apple had secured an exemption from laws requiring Emirati ownership of businesses, paving the way for it to open the self-operated outlets.
But there is unlikely to be any long-term impact on resellers or changes to their current prices of Apple devices, which are set by the manufacturer, according to another retailer, as competition with other brands including Samsung will remain fierce.
“Apple is in a titanic global struggle with Samsung and the Android operating system; it wants all its products in as many outlets as possible. Tourists may want to visit the Apple store, but most people in the UAE will be buying from their local shops,” said Mueez Rahman, the business development manager for Albatha Group that includes E-City stores.
Apple did not respond to requests for comment from The National.
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