HONOR is implementing a bold plan to enhance its footprint in the Middle East and boost its market share by addressing the requirements of all societal segments, according to a senior executive.

Laurance Li, the Country Manager for HONOR in the GCC, announced that the prominent global tech brand will bolster its presence in the UAE by launching three HONOR Experience Stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this year. Li revealed that the inaugural HONOR Experience Store in Dubai will open next month, with two additional stores slated to open later this year in the UAE.

With 18 years of experience in the mobile phone industry, Li oversees business operations across multiple countries including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. His extensive career includes roles in channel sales, go-to-market strategies, e-commerce, and retail management. Li expressed the company's intention to introduce HONOR Experience stores across the UAE and the broader region to emulate the success of their business model in China, aiming to establish new experience stores in high-end retail locations.

Li also highlighted HONOR's commitment to strengthening its partnership with over 850 retail associates in the region to ensure product availability for GCC consumers. He praised leading retail partners such as Emax, Jumbo, and Sharaf DG, among others, and emphasized the company's ongoing efforts to expand its presence in the GCC.

In the UAE, HONOR has risen to the top four in market share in the first quarter, with a year-on-year growth of 105%. The company aims to achieve a 10% market share by the end of 2024, driven by the popularity of its innovative flagship products. HONOR introduced the world's thinnest and lightest foldable phone, the Magic V2, in the UAE this year, targeting the high-end segment, and the HONOR 200 Series is designed to serve the mid-market segment.

Li emphasized that HONOR is committed to serving every price segment in the market, having launched various high-end and entry-level products. The company is now focusing on Gen Z with the AI-powered HONOR 200 Series, offering an attractive price range.

Globally, the smartphone segment is highly competitive, and Li believes that brands offering value-for-money products will win over tech-savvy consumers. HONOR reinforces its position as a leader in technological innovation by investing heavily in research and development (R&D) to meet consumer needs, allocating 11.5% of its annual revenue to R&D.

Li also addressed the company's efforts to reduce the time gap between product launches in China and other global markets, acknowledging the challenges posed by regulatory issues, privacy, and data usage rules. He expressed hope that future products will launch simultaneously worldwide.

The HONOR 200 Series is designed to attract the younger generation, particularly esports enthusiasts, with features like the HONOR 200 Pro, the official smartphone of the Esports World Cup. This device boasts a unique design, excellent OLED display, and fast charging capabilities, powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset.

The new flagship device offers unparalleled portrait photography features, thanks to AI technology. The HONOR 200 Pro features a triple 50MP studio-level portrait camera setup, enhancing the user experience with a dynamic and interactive portrait mode.

Li expressed high hopes for the HONOR 200 Series, expecting a 30% increase in smartphone sales in the region this year. The series sets new benchmarks in AI portrait photography, showcasing advanced AI across camera, chipset, display, and user interface.

Regarding software updates and security features, Li confirmed that the HONOR 200 Series will receive updates for at least four years, ensuring device safety and user privacy. The series is compatible with global wireless charging and introduces the 100W HONOR Supercharge technology, allowing for a full charge in just 41 minutes.

Li concluded by highlighting HONOR's rapid integration of AI features into the 200 Series, marking the beginning of a new era with more powerful AI-packed smart devices planned for future global launches.