Delhi customs officials recently confiscated twelve iPhone 16 Pro Max from passengers arriving from Dubai. A group of four individuals was apprehended while attempting to smuggle the devices via an Indigo flight on October 1.
The latest iPhone 16 series, currently priced at Dh3,399 in the UAE, has seen significant interest from international buyers looking to resell the devices at higher prices in their home countries. The iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are priced at Dh3,799, Dh4,299, and Dh5,099, respectively, for their base models.
In contrast, the iPhone 16 series in India starts at Rs79,900 for the base model, with the iPhone 16 Plus at Rs89,900, the iPhone 16 Pro at Rs119,900, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at Rs144,900.
The UAE has seen a surge in international buyers who are willing to pay a premium of Dh1,500 to Dh2,500 above the retail price to secure the devices. However, some resellers in the UAE have suffered substantial financial losses, with some reporting losses as high as Dh200,000 due to the rapid influx of supply and subsequent price drops.
