mrkjd

I'm due to start a job in UAE after an absence of 10 yrs from the ME. I now see that there are Apple Stores and prices look good compared to UK. Is Face Time still banned in UAE and hardware blocked from products sold there?

jam25mack

It's not banned but the majority of the phones you buy here don't have it installed. That said my iphone before this my current one I bought here and that had it installed. If you search around some of the smaller stores you can find them with Facetime.

mrkjd

So if I buy a macbook or iPhone from the Apple Store in Dubai / Abu Dhabi it won't have Face Time but I can easily add it when back in UK (or using a VPN)? I seem to remember a couple of years ago that the phones were hard-wired not to have FT and it couldn't be easily overcome.

NorthernLad

My wife tried to install Facetime when back in the UK a couple of years ago and it didn't work.

But from souq.com and you get the Apple products with Facetime (and generally cheaper than the Apple store.

jam25mack

As far as I am aware you cannot add it if it isn't there.... I'm sure some geek could but.....

mrkjd

Thanks for responses so far. Pity UAE Apple products remain partially crippled in this way even from their own stores in country. FT is important for me as Friends & Family use it. Unfortunately I will be based in the field so don't have an UAE address for Souq.com. Was hoping to buy from a retail shop therefore. Are Apple Laptops equally difficult to retro load FaceTime?

martinbkk

Why wait, buy it in UK, get a VAT receipt, claim the 20% VAT back when you leave the country, price is then likely similar.

Or...

Wait until you're in country, take a long weekend, hop over to Bangkok, buy it there, do other stuff, return. Cheaper than UAE and you get a holiday.

mrkjd

I claimed the VAT back on a laptop years ago when I was resident in Saudi but unfortunately the contract in UAE won’t last long enough for me to gain non residency from the UK and I am on rotation back to the UK so can’t claim back VAT. The wife would probably have some misgivings if I flew the other way to BKK for a few days as well!

hnd

We've bought Apple iPhones SE from Virgin Superstore in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and have also bought iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro 10.5" from Virgin Superstore in City Centre Mall in Muscat and they all have Facetime.

mrkjd

You may have been lucky with those Virgin purchases as there seem to be plenty of disgruntled tourists online who’s Dubai shopping experience is to end up with a hobbled phone. Anybody know a reliable electronics store in AD that does Apple gray imports?

mission

buy the phone from outside the UAE and you'll get FT with it.

mrkjd

Not exactly helpful

jam25mack

Well seriously, what are you looking for exactly? Someone to go into every shop in the UAE, esquire for you and report back? You asked and were advised..... I even told you that some shops do and some don't, you need to shop around.

Asking the same question again and again and expecting a different answer is.....

mrkjd

Very silly reply. “Esquire for me”? Maybe you should have a nice lie down and sleep it off. Nothing to see here jam & mission ..... now move along please

mrkjd

Can the mods lock this thread now before it attracts more idiocy? Thanks to all who took the time to usefully contribute.