iPhone 5 has finally arrived at the local Apple iStore in the UAE and is priced at Dh2599 for a 16GB, cheaper than what both etisalat and du are offering.

Both etisalat and du have priced the 16GB iPhone 5 models at Dh2,749 which is Dh150 more than what is being charged at the iStore. Apple has also priced its other models at a cheaper rate, selling the 32GB at Dh2,999, compared to etisalat’s Dh3,199 and Dh3,199 by du a drop of almost Dh200.

Similarly the 64GB model is priced Dh3,399 at the iStore while etisalat and du are selling them for Dh3,549 and Dh3,599, respectively.

A 16GB model on the US Apple website is available for US$649 before tax, compared to $707.4 in the the UAE.

Apple had earlier announced that its latest version of the iPhone would be officially made available in the UAE starting December 14, almost two-and-a-half months after it was initially launched in the United States and other markets.

Electronic stores that were selling the iPhone 5 at a premium charging almost 75 per cent more compared to the current price immediately started slashing their prices.

One leading electronic store which was selling a 16GB model for Dh4,699 reduced it by about Dh700 immediately after the announcement. Cobone had advertised a deal where a 16GB iPhone5 was being sold for Dh2,999.

However, by offering a price range lower than what both the UAE telecom providers are offering, Apple is clearly indicating its preference for customers to buy an Apple product from either its own iStore or from an authorized reseller.

The iPhone 5 has been officially released in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

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