Queuing since 3am
Rehman, who picked up four iPhone 16s last year, is back this year to get his hands on the new iPhone 17. This year, he pre-ordered two iPhone 17s, a base variant and a Pro Max.
He arrived at Dubai Mall at 3am and found around 20 people already in queue.
Long queues, barricading
As the much-anticipated iPhone 17 launches today, long queues have been forming since 5am.
At Dubai Mall, lines snake around the premises, with people waiting even near the fountain, just two floors below the flagship Apple Store. Meanwhile, at Mall of the Emirates, only customers with appointments are being allowed inside.
For the first time in years, Apple is not allowing direct walk-in purchases of the iPhone 17 line — that includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max — at UAE Apple Stores on launch day.
Last year, you could still reserve your iPhone and drop by the store at the time allocated to you and make the payment before picking up the new device.
This year, however, you can only collect the phone in-store after pre-ordering it online.
