The rumors are true, Apple is finally in town! Say 'Marhaba' to the first – not one but TWO – Apple stores in the Arab world!
What?
On Thursday October 29th, 2015, Apple announced the opening of two new Apple stores in the UAE, making them the first Apple stores in the Gulf and the 465th & 466th stores worldwide.
Where?
The stores are located in:
,- , Dubai
- , Abu Dhabi
It is not common for Apple to launch 2 different stores in the same country on the same day, yet the UAE is known for its one of a kind events. Apple hired 150 employees from 30 different countries speaking 40 different languages who have been trained in the United States and Europe to provide the best service for its fans and loyal consumers.
Crowds queued at the doors on Thursday for hours waiting for the highly anticipated opening to get a hold of everything from the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to the Apple Watch, Beats headphones, Apple TVs, iPads, iMacs, and Apple accessories.
Wendy Beckman, Senior Retail Director for EMEIA, gave her official speech Wednesday prior to the grand opening at the Dubai store, and Angela Ahrendts, senior vice-president of retail and online stores, attended the Dubai store’s opening Thursday.
The stores feature more than 150 products including the famous $17,000 Golden Apple Watch !
Free Workshops for Children & Women
Apple did not suffice with the grand opening, it is also offering free workshops for people of all experience levels, along with youth programs like Apple Camp and Field Trip. You can register online for the workshops in Dubai store and Abu Dhabi store .
What is even more unique about the UAE stores is the availability of Women-Only workshops as a gesture of respect and understanding to the Arabic culture.
Working Hours?
The stores are open from:
,- 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Mondays to Wednesdays
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM on Thursdays to Saturdays
You can also reach them through their hotlines:
,- Dubai Branch - 80004441819
- Abu Dhabi Branch - 80004441824
Here are some photos from the festive grand opening day:
[gallery columns="2" size="step-feed-large" ids="28863,28865,28864,28862,28867,28868,28861,28860,28870"]