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Using my UK iPhone in the UAE

1

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 00:21

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites!
Thanks!

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1

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 22:25

Thanks everyone this is a great help. Ihave checked with my UK provider and they have said there's no issue with getting the phone unlocked so it looks like this could work. Thanks so much for all the advice! Much appreciated!

43

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 16:04

we bought it from the apple retail store in regent street. Then it won't have been locked. Apple does not lock any the iPads it sells itself. iPads are generally only SIM-locked if you buy them on a contract directly from a telecoms provider. Since you're getting the device much more cheaply, the telecoms company wants to do its best to ensure that you are forced to stay with them for the full duration of the contract. As has been said, if you want to buy an iPhone in the UK, you need to ensure that you buy it unlocked, which usually costs a lot more money than buying them on contract. You can take the risk of buying a locked one and then trying to get it unlocked back in Dubai, but Apple is making it harder and harder to unlock them, so you may find that you need to wait some time before a working unlock for your phone becomes available - it all depends on what version of the software is on your phone when you get it. This is right, if you are buying direct from apple you will be fine. If you have or are going to purchase the phone through the network providers, you will need to either wait until the contract ends and request for the phone to be unlocked before it is compatible with a UAE sim (I had to do this with vodafone). Or will need to find someone to unlock it like others have mentioned.

Madge_Gustard59558

841

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 14:34

we bought it from the apple retail store in regent street. Then it won't have been locked. Apple does not lock any the iPads it sells itself. iPads are generally only SIM-locked if you buy them on a contract directly from a telecoms provider. Since you're getting the device much more cheaply, the telecoms company wants to do its best to ensure that you are forced to stay with them for the full duration of the contract. As has been said, if you want to buy an iPhone in the UK, you need to ensure that you buy it unlocked, which usually costs a lot more money than buying them on contract. You can take the risk of buying a locked one and then trying to get it unlocked back in Dubai, but Apple is making it harder and harder to unlock them, so you may find that you need to wait some time before a working unlock for your phone becomes available - it all depends on what version of the software is on your phone when you get it.

89

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 14:31

If you bought it from Apple directly, it will be unlocked. So you can just put any sim card in it and it should work. My UK iPhone works in Qatar and Dubai no problem with local sim cards.

129

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 13:14

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards. just make sure that the iphone that youll buy from here didnt pass the QA of the UAE as the software will be altered.make sure that the phone was straight from the US.DH bought his iphone4s from compu me some sales assistant will not inform you about it.altho it will cost you a few hundred bucks.

129

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 13:08

darn..didnt know about this.we bought our ipad2 3g in the UK and i never had any problems using international sim cards,as long as you are using a pre paid one. which provider did you buy the Ipad through though? not all telecoms lock the phones however Orange are notorious for it and perhaps they only lock phones :-) we bought it from the apple retail store in regent street.

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:36

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards. I think the OP wants one from UK as they are cheaper to buy and you can do pay as you go. If you get one from Etisalat or DU don't you need to be on a contract? ( does that make sense) Thanks I have had prepaid and post paid BB service from both Etisalat and Du, so I assume it will be possible for Iphone as well. I didnt know that thank you :-) Welcome:)

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:32

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards. I think the OP wants one from UK as they are cheaper to buy and you can do pay as you go. If you get one from Etisalat or DU don't you need to be on a contract? ( does that make sense) Thanks I have had prepaid and post paid BB service from both Etisalat and Du, so I assume it will be possible for Iphone as well. I didnt know that thank you :-)

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:25

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards. I think the OP wants one from UK as they are cheaper to buy and you can do pay as you go. If you get one from Etisalat or DU don't you need to be on a contract? ( does that make sense) Thanks I have had prepaid and post paid BB service from both Etisalat and Du, so I assume it will be possible for Iphone as well.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:21

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards. I think the OP wants one from UK as they are cheaper to buy and you can do pay as you go. If you get one from Etisalat or DU don't you need to be on a contract? ( does that make sense) Thanks

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:16

I am considering buying an iPhone in the UK, but want to know if I can use it on a pay and go package in the UAE. Does anyone know is it possible just to buy a sim on these packages from etisalat or du or do you need to buy the iPhone from them too... its not that clear on their websites! Thanks! I am sure you can buy just a Du or Etisalat Iphone package without buying the phone, at least it was possible when I had my blackberry and just got the bb service (Did with both Etisalat and Du) Do you want to buy your Iphone in the UK because it might be sim lock free? If you get an Iphone from etisalat it will be sim lock free, so you will be able to use it with other sim cards.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 11:12

darn..didnt know about this.we bought our ipad2 3g in the UK and i never had any problems using international sim cards,as long as you are using a pre paid one. which provider did you buy the Ipad through though? not all telecoms lock the phones however Orange are notorious for it and perhaps they only lock phones :-)

129

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 10:30

darn..didnt know about this.we bought our ipad2 3g in the UK and i never had any problems using international sim cards,as long as you are using a pre paid one.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 10:06

You can go to Etisilat and buy a sim for your phone it's really easy. It needs to be an unlocked one and if you are on orange at home in UK it is locked Computer Plaza in Bur Dubai unlock them cheaply. I had mine done there :-)

2725

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 08:41

If your uk provided has your iPhone locked for international use, then you would need to get it unlocked here. Before you buy the phone ask the shop if it's ok to use abroad. <em>edited by salsB on 24/07/2012</em>

297

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 July 2012 - 00:26

You can go to Etisilat and buy a sim for your phone it's really easy.

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