More than 1.04 billion smartphones were sold in the first three quarters of this year, almost 88.6 million more than in the first nine months of 2020, according to technology research and consulting company Gartner.
After a double-digit surge on a yearly basis in the first two quarters of 2021, global smartphone sales declined by 6.8 per cent annually in the third quarter of this year.
The Covid-19 pandemic-induced shortage of key components such as radio frequency and power management integrated circuits, delayed smartphone production globally that led to a decline in sales in the July-September period, according to Gartner.
“This disrupted the supply-demand equilibrium and end-users were burdened with limited choices at point of sale,” it said.
Despite the prevailing market constraints, challenging business ecosystem and dismal business outlook, some smartphone models have continued to perform strongly.
Here are the top seven best-selling smartphones in the first three quarters of the year, according to industry observers Counterpoint Research and International Data Corporation, whose research did not reveal the exact number of units sold for each model.
iPhone 12
Apple’s iPhone 12 became the world’s best-selling 5G smartphone in the first nine months of the year, according to industry data.
Despite a delayed launch owing to the coronavirus-led supply chain disruptions, the 5G-enabled iPhone 12 managed to attract more customers. With a 15.5-centimetre display, the iPhone 12 was selling at Dh3,399 ($945) in the UAE at the time of launch.
It was released on October 13 last year, along with three more models – the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Galaxy A12
Launched late last year, Galaxy A12 is one of the Samsung’s most-selling budget smartphones.
With a 16.5cm display and quad-camera system on the rear, the A12 model has a powerful battery of 5,000 milliampere-hour that is enough to last more than two days between charges. The company said it comes with a defence-grade Knox security platform and is supported by a side fingerprint sensor.
iPhone 11
The iPhone 11, which was introduced in September 2019 at Dh2,949 in the UAE, still attracts buyers, more than two years after its launch.
Offering a low-cost, entry level iPhone allowed Apple to increase its presence in a wider array of price bands – a strategy that competitors Samsung and Xiaomi have been employing for years.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Priced at Dh4,699 in the UAE at the time of launch, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 17cm display, the largest yet in the history of Apple smartphones. It also has the brand’s highest resolution of about 3.5 million pixels.
Its 5G compatibility made it a big hit among professional users and buyers looking for a bigger screen.
A 5G network promises an internet speed of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, which will gradually reach 10Gbps – 100 times faster than 4G.
iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro, meanwhile, has a screen size of 15.5cm and started selling at Dh4,199 in the UAE.
Both new Pro models in Apple’s 12 series have an industry leading IP68 rating and can withstand being submerged in water up to six metres for about 30 minutes.
Xiaomi Redmi 9A
Launched last year, Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi’s budget phone Redmi 9A managed to grab huge market share in India – the world’s second-most populous country. It was the sixth-most selling smartphone globally in the January-September period.
Donning a 16.6cm display, Redmi 9A comes with a 5000mAh battery that delivers two days of uninterrupted connectivity, the company said. Its artificial intelligence-driven face-unlock feature ensures instant unlocking with a glance.
“The feature gives quick, secure and convenient access to your smartphone using intelligent face recognition system,” Xiaomi said.
In July 2018, Xiaomi went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a valuation of $54 billion. It is known for its affordable devices that draw comparisons with Apple and Samsung phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 was the seventh most-selling phone during the first nine months of this year. It is equipped with a high-performance octa-core processor with a maximum frequency of 2.0GHz and a GPU (graphics processing unit) frequency of 1,000MHz for improved efficiency.
It comes with a HyperEngine technology to offer a seamless gaming experience to users.
There is an AI-backed four-camera setup on the rear and a 13MP in-display front camera to click selfies even during the low-light.
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National