iPhone 18 Pro Could Cost Dh5,400+ in the UAE, Here's What's Driving the Price Jump

Apple's next round of price hikes may already be in motion. A rumor out this week claims iPhone 17 prices could rise as early as August 10, ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro launch in September, and while Apple hasn't confirmed anything, the timing lines up with a pattern the company has already set this year. If you've been holding off on an iPhone purchase, here's what's actually known and what to watch for.

The iPhone 17 Rumor, and Why It's Plausible

The claim originated with Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, who has not provided evidence and has admitted uncertainty about the timing. Apple has made no official statement on iPhone 17 pricing. But the rumor lands on top of a year where Apple has already raised prices elsewhere: the MacBook Air 13" (M5) moved from Dh4,599 to Dh5,499, the MacBook Air 15" (M5) from Dh5,499 to Dh6,299, and the MacBook Pro 14" (M5) from roughly Dh7,199 to Dh8,499. Tim Cook has pointed to the cause directly, saying the increases were "unavoidable" due to "surging memory and storage costs," adding that "the memory guys are passing along huge price increases."

Today, current UAE iPhone 17 pricing sits at Dh3,399 for the base 256GB model, Dh4,299 for the iPhone 17 Pro (256GB), roughly Dh5,549 for the Pro at 512GB, around Dh6,399 for the 1TB Pro, and Dh5,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB). None of that has changed yet. But given Apple's pattern this year, it's reasonable to expect it won't stay put for long.

What iPhone 18 Pro Could Cost in the UAE

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, with standard iPhone 18 models reportedly pushed to spring 2027. IDC's Nabila Popal has predicted a roughly $200 increase for the Pro models, noting that "the days of modest $50 annual price increases may be over." If that estimate holds and Apple passes the full increase to UAE pricing, analysts project the iPhone 18 Pro could start around Dh5,400–Dh5,500, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max landing near Dh5,800–Dh5,900. These are predictions, not confirmed prices. They still give a useful sense of where the floor is likely to sit.

What This Means If You're Buying in the UAE

The practical takeaway is simple: if you're already planning to buy an iPhone 17 this year, the case for buying sooner rather than later just got a bit stronger. Waiting for the iPhone 18 Pro means paying flagship prices for flagship hardware, which makes sense if you want the latest camera and battery upgrades. But if a current-generation iPhone already covers what you need, locking in today's pricing avoids the increase that may be coming, regardless of which rumor turns out to be accurate.

Florence Trading stocks the current iPhone 17 lineup for UAE buyers, and we'll keep tracking pricing as Apple's September announcements get closer.

Browse the current iPhone lineup and other Apple devices available through Florence Trading in our Apple collection.