Buying IPhone in UAE

[CapeTownchic86]

Has anyone purchased an iPhone in the UAE before and did you have any issues with using it back home in SA?

Did the apps work? Someone told me you get an international version of the iPhone? Not sure if it's true.

Which apps if any did not work in SA

 

[Dave]

From memory the biggest omission is no FaceTime on a UAE iPhone.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I do believe the lock is only applicable in country but haven’t done it personally.

 

[Dave]

I do believe the lock is only applicable in country but haven’t done it personally.

Me neither, it's entirely possible, I was only posting from memory.

 

[Spizz]

Things may have changed, but I bought a 6S in Dubai. You do (or did) get two versions, one with FaceTime, one without so make sure it is the version with. Most of the big electronics shops in the big malls only had the version without, but the supermarket Carrefour had the one with. But other than that it was exactly the same.

 

[The Darkness]

No issues whatsoever.

 

[Imz]

Got an iPhone 13 from Dubai. Set it up this morning. I got the Middle East version which I only activated in South Africa. Everything including Facetime works. No issues thus far