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IPAD 2 release date in Dubai

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143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 13:46

And if I buy the ipad2 with just Wifi and no 3G will it still work in Dubai?

143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 13:21

Thanks Edna, but if we buy the 3G one from America do we have to subscribe and pay a monthly fee or can the 3G be turned off?

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 12:55

Dubai import duty is 10% for "luxury items" and 4% for everything else. Even if I have to pay the full 10% on my iPad (290 AED), the total price is still *way* lower than anything you can get in Dubai. I've bought quite a few things over 1000 AED via Aramex, and most of the time I've got away without paying duty. It's the luck of the draw, but 290 AED is still a bargain considering the alternative. I mean, seriously, 5500 AED for an iPad 2? That's roughly 50% more than the most expensive one (64Gb+wifi+3G) costs in either the UK or USA. Even if that 5500 AED buys you the same model here (and it wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't), why would you pay 50% more than you needed to for it? <em>edited by edna.welthorpe on 27/03/2011</em>

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 12:37

Thanks Edna, I didnt buy as yet as I have been told you could pay a hefty customs tax into the UAE for items over AED 1000 so in the end it would be similar to what you would pay in Dubai anyway. Does anyone know anything more about this tax? I did buy some Dr Dre HD headphones though which I couldnt get in Dubai.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

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EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 09:34

Just scared if I buy from America it wont work in Dubai It'll work anywhere with no problems. Apple's products are all designed to work on any mains voltage anywhere around the world. Bear in mind that ALL the iPad 2s currently available for ridiculous markups in the shops in Dubai are American models that have been unofficially imported. Same happened with the original iPad and the iPhone/iPhone 4 before they went on sale officially here. It will come with an American plug, but you can simply slide it off the power adapter and slide on a local 2- or 3-pin one. They are specifically designed to be interchangeable. I am also trying to work out if we will need to use the 3G function as its 400dhs cheaper with just wifi. Get the 3G. You might not think you need it now, but you can bet you'll want it later. And if you're buying direct from the US, the cost saving over any iPad being sold in Dubai is so big that it would be silly not to ;) Just remember to specify the AT&T model, because then you will get unlocked GSM 3G that will work in every country in the world. The Verizon model isn't locked either, but Verizon uses a different type of 3G (CDMA2000 rather than GSM) that is completely incompatible with GSM 3G (which is what we have in the UAE) and which isn't supported in numerous other countries either.

310

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 07:10

Be careful with trying to ship an Apple product via your Shop n Ship account. When the first iPad was released I tried ordering online using the same method and I received an email from apple stating that in order to be fair to other customers, they cannot ship so many products to the same address and automatically cancelled the order. Thankfully my credit card was not charged at that point.

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 02:44

Hi Claire, no sorry I have opened a shop and ship account and received my US/UK addresses. Just scared if I buy from America it wont work in Dubai. I am also trying to work out if we will need to use the 3G function as its 400dhs cheaper with just wifi.

2958

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 02:32

melbell - you say you've set up an aramex account but..... i think Edna means an Aramex Shop and Ship account - not a regular courier accoutn with Aramex. Edna am I correct. It used to be that when setting up a shop and ship account it would take a few days to set up and they delivered the joining pack to your home in dubai.....sounds to me like you have just opened a regular courier account and this does not give you your shopping address in the UK and US....... Sounds like you are not in dubai at the moment - if you are travelling in from EU see if you can buy it from the airport shops - that's what I am planning on doing......

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 02:12

And promise last question.....will the plugs for the IPAD be American or will they also supply UK plus which fit in Dubai's sockets? You have been a great help, thanks so much.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

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EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 02:10

Apple doesn't provide the shipping weight on their website, I got it from Amazon. Aramex's Shop & Ship charges are on their website, from memory I think it's 41 AED per half kilo.

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 01:49

Sorry for all the questions....where do I get the actual shipping weight from the Apple store and how do I find out how much Aramex charge per kg before I make the payment as I have bought a couple of other things to.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

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EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 01:48

I didn't put a mobile number. Aramex give you an American phone number to go with your shipping address (it's actually their American office number) and so I used that for the "primary phone number" and left the alternate phone number blank. I would guess that if you try and use a non-American number it will reject it. I'm now thinking this was all way too easy and the order will end up being cancelled just before it's due to ship ;)

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 01:37

Thanks Edna, have set up Aramex account. When Apple ask for a mobile number do you leave it blank or put your Dubai number in?

edna.welthorpe36638

516

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EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:51

Amazon.com (and the US Apple web store) won't deliver it outside the USA. You'd need to set up an Aramex account, which gives you shipping addresses in the USA and UK. You order using your USA shipping address, and when it arrives there it will be forwarded on to you in Dubai within a few days for about 120 AED. <em>edited by edna.welthorpe on 27/03/2011</em>

143

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:42

Thank you, do you think I could get set up an Amazon account and they will deliver it to Dubai?

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:36

According to Amazon the shipping weight is 3 lbs (1.36 kg).

143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:33

Edna - do you know the weight of the IPAD as my shipping company requesting it to work out shipping costs.

143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:29

Thanks Edna, might order one from America and tell hubby he has to wait a month for his birthday present. If anyone sees what the prices are in Dubai for the 32GB and 64GB this week please let me know.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:25

Hi melbell, if you order the AT&T 3G (you have the choice of AT&T or Verizon), it's unlocked. I did a lot of research first, and there is widespread confirmation that the AT&T version is unlocked.

143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:12

Hi Edna, will the ipad be unlocked? Did they say what the delivery time will be? What does 3G enable you to do, is it worth paying extra to get it? <em>edited by melbell on 27/03/2011</em>

edna.welthorpe36638

516

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EW GURU

Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:00

Correction to my previous posting... I've just ordered an iPad 2 32Gb + wifi + 3G from the US Apple Store using my Aramex address and my UAE credit card :) I immediately got the confirmation text from HSBC that my credit card had been charged 2912 AED. I did some Googling and it turns out that although the official line is that you have to have a credit card with an American billing address, some people said they'd tried ordering with a non-US card and had been successful. I gave it a try, expecting it not to work... and it did :) That said, although my card has been charged I haven't received the confirmation email yet, so I guess it's still possible that somebody may notice and cancel it, so fingers crossed... <em>edited by edna.welthorpe on 27/03/2011</em>

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 23:20

What actual model of iPad 2 will that 5500 AED buy you? It's just that you can buy the most expensive one - 64Gb + wifi + 3G - for 4000 AED on Amazon.com. Amazon will only ship it to an American address but if you have Aramex that's no problem, and the Aramex shipping cost would only be about 120 AED. Import duty, if you got stung for it, would be about 160 AED. The cheapest iPad 2 (16Gb + wifi) on Amazon is 2233 AED. Bear in mind also that both of those prices I've quoted are for Amazon resellers who are charging a fairly hefty premium over the official US Apple price - and they're still way cheaper than in Dubai! The premium is there because the resellers can supply immediately, while if you buy direct from Apple there's a 3-4 week delay. Just for the heck of it, the cheapest iPad 2 direct from Apple would cost 1832 AED and the most expensive would be 3044 AED, but you can't buy from the US Apple store without an American credit card as well as an American shipping address.

1811

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 21:24

already here in Festival City in Electronics shop on top floor (can't remember name) @ Dhs 5500. The old one is now down to Dhs 1500...only difference being new one slimmer and camera back and front. That seems like a good price for the old one. I might get one for the youngest dd's birthday.

143

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 20:15

Thanks highland lass, hopefully there will still be some in stock by the time I get back to Dubai on Thursday. If anyone sees any or buys one later in the week can you let me know where from as I will be there first thing Thursday. Thank you.

255

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 18:58

For the 3g, I have an etisalat phone sim so I went to the etisalat stand and switched my sim for two sims (100 dh), a reg and a micro. They are both hooked to my phone number and work off my current data package. It was really easy and I tried both out and they even work!

highland lass30162

515

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 18:42

saw them today in jackies express store MOE today. They had stock of all 3 memory sizes. Sorry don't remember price

697

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 10:19

already here in Festival City in Electronics shop on top floor (can't remember name) @ Dhs 5500. The old one is now down to Dhs 1500...only difference being new one slimmer and camera back and front. longer battery life, HD video, faster processor... :) I think I will survive with the original and [i'>skip[/i'> a generation and wait for the iPad 3 :)

155

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 10:02

You can generally buy an iPad (3G) in the UK etc and have it work here.. you must ensure the iPad isn't locked to a carrier when you buy it. You are best to get a local sim card and data plan for the places you frequent the most. ie. with my iphone I have a UAE sim, UK and OZ... as I travel to these places regularly and the roaming costs on any of the plans is outrageous, so I just swap my UAE phone sim into a spare handset and keep using my iphone but with 'local' data plan. It is the same concept with the iPads.. and from what CCDOHA says they work in both.

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 10:01

already here in Festival City in Electronics shop on top floor (can't remember name) @ Dhs 5500. The old one is now down to Dhs 1500...only difference being new one slimmer and camera back and front.

697

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 09:30

I have seen the ipad 2 in shops here in Qatar already. Must have come from the US?? @smartie the 3G works anywhere. You would just want to get a sim card (and plan) for the country you are in and swap them when you travel. In the UK they have a great plan on 02 where you take the free microsim card and put it in the ipad and then you can pay by the day whenever you want to use it or you can pay monthly. I have no idea what the 02 roaming charges are if you use it outside the UK but probably too expensive. In Dubai, yes you would have to see what plans the local carriers offer. Here is what I do though...I bought a mifi from Qtel in Qatar, I am sure that Du or etisalat have them. The one I have if portable and about the size of powder compact. This creates a wireless hotspot for me and ANY of my devices, wherever I am at, as long as I can get a 3G signal. SO I can use multiple iPads, laptops, phones, etc (at the same time) and pay for one data plan to share. The data plan was the same regardless if I put the sim card in my iPad or in the mifi device. Also, I can swap the sim in the mifi so the mifi device is good anywhere in world too. <em>edited by ccdoha on 26/03/2011</em>

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