Apple Store Coming to Saudi Arabia Both Online and In Person

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that its online store will launch in Saudi Arabia in summer 2025. The online store will allow customers in the country to order Apple's full range of products directly from the company for the first time.

Apple also said that it plans to open several flagship retail stores in Saudi Arabia starting in 2026. One of the stores will be in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site located just on the outskirts of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

"We're excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year, and the first of several flagship Apple Store locations starting in 2026, including an iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah coming later," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Saudi Arabia already has hundreds of Apple Authorized Reseller locations, but this will be Apple's first direct retail presence in the country.

Apple also announced that it will be opening a new store in the United Arab Emirates city of Al Ain next year, expanding its retail presence there. Apple has four other stores in the country, and its online store launched there in 2011.

In both of the press releases, Apple touted its various commitments and ongoing investments in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Cook spent the past few days in the United Arab Emirates, per his social media posts. He met with app developers, watched a Formula 1 race, and more.

Cook also visited a women's developer academy in Riyadh.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Store Coming to Saudi Arabia Both Online and In Person

 

[JapanApple]

I like to see their limited edition collections

 

[ZilzilaStriken]

This is huge for people in Saudi. Their authorized resellers never carry all configurations and prices are always higher.

 

[trusso]

My knowledge of middle-eastern geopolitics is almost non-existent, and I'm no fan of capitalism-at-all-costs, but if Apple see's fit to do business there, perhaps steps are being made in the right direction? But I might be hopelessly naive and totally off-base here.

 

[JapanApple]

The bottom line is making money and that’s why they were there.

 

[Shix]

My knowledge of middle-eastern geopolitics is almost non-existent, and I'm no fan of capitalism-at-all-costs, but if Apple see's fit to do business there, perhaps steps are being made in the right direction? But I might be hopelessly naive and totally off-base here.

there's problems in every country. i believe its a bit wierd if you are against beliefs of other countries. then you should cut off all the business with them. you think the U.S would thrive like this if they had this isolated mentality?

 

[abdullamac77]

Apple today announced that its online store will launch in Saudi Arabia in summer 2025. The online store will allow customers in the country to order Apple's full range of products directly from the company for the first time.

Apple also said that it plans to open several flagship retail stores in Saudi Arabia starting in 2026. One of the stores will be in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site located just on the outskirts of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

"We're excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year, and the first of several flagship Apple Store locations starting in 2026, including an iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah coming later," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Saudi Arabia already has hundreds of Apple Authorized Reseller locations, but this will be Apple's first direct retail presence in the country.

Apple also announced that it will be opening a new store in the United Arab Emirates city of Al Ain next year, expanding its retail presence there. Apple has four other stores in the country, and its online store launched there in 2011.

In both of the press releases, Apple touted its various commitments and ongoing investments in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Cook spent the past few days in the United Arab Emirates, per his social media posts. He met with app developers, watched a Formula 1 race, and more.

Article Link: Apple Store Coming to Saudi Arabia Both Online and In Person

..and here I am in the tiny island of Bahrain surrounded by the UAE and Saudi Arabia having both their own respective official Apple Stores, while I’m stuck with the local ‘Partners’. On top of that, Apple Fitness is still not available nor Turn-by-Turn navigation on Apple Maps.. :/

 

[yanksfan114]

It goes both ways. By Saudi Arabia knowingly letting a company in that is clearly pro gay rights set up shop there, they are also tossing away their values for the almighty dollar.

But here’s the thing… Tim Cook submitting his values has less of an impact than the entire government of Saudi Arabia submitting theirs. It’s a subtle WIN for gay rights in the end because they make inroads in a difficult place. It’s a compromise by Tim for the greater goal.

Apple’s keynotes, which feature Tim and rainbows in the background, may end up being watched more by citizens. They may respect him more, and in turn slowly change minds about gay people. Or maybe not. But it’s a possibility.

Looking at one man is a small-minded view of the larger goal here. And it forgets that corporate giants with money chests larger than many countries have the ultimate power.

Lol this a insanely naive take on the country and what businesses do to appease whichever country they sell into. You think apple will sell rainbow pride Apple Watch bands in Saudi Arbaia? Or change their logo color on social media for gay pride month? Absolutely not. They're there to make money and will bend on their values if it brings in enough income.

 

[yanksfan114]

there's problems in every country. i believe its a bit wierd if you are against beliefs of other countries. then you should cut off all the business with them. you think the U.S would thrive like this if they had this isolated mentality?

When's the last time the US chopped up a reporter for writing against them or gay person just for being?

 

[senttoschool]

When's the last time the US chopped up a reporter for writing against them or gay person just for being?

If you're going to come up with arbitrary measures of moral values, why aren't you advocating for Apple to leave the US because the US has invaded more countries than anyone else in the last century?

 

[Shix]

When's the last time the US chopped up a reporter for writing against them or gay person just for being?

well they're funding a g e n o c i d e. and proudly so. i think that's more messed up.

 

[Plutonius]

Apple is making some investments and I also wonder what concessions Apple had to make in order to sell there.

 

[ThomasJL]

Apple SJW-CEO Tim Cook pretends to care about human rights, but in reality, he will gladly do business with regimes who violate human rights—even regimes causing death to innocent people—in order for Apple to make more profits and please shareholders.

 

[mansplains]

i don't understand why his sexuality should be visble in place of BUSINESS.

It shouldn’t be, but there’s strong support for “sex work is real work”

 

[Shix]

It shouldn’t be, but there’s strong support for “sex work is real work”

yeah but that's completely irrelevant.

 

[SouthPalito]

Can the CEO even travel there?

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

I wouldn’t ever go to any store there.
Being a Female who wants equal rights or if you are LGBTQ+ = Prison
Tickle your Friend’s Feet as a joke in Public? = Prison
Sneezing / Puking in Public? = Prison
Hugging a Friend/Family in Public? Death Penalty 🤣
But it’s okay.. you know why? Because that’s what’s coming to the country California is based off in next month when an •0range• figure returns to power.

 

[rcarter3636]

Doing business there must be a new Apple “feature” like being carbon neutral and eco friendly products….

 

[Shix]

I wouldn’t ever go to any store there.
Being a Female who wants equal rights or if you are LGBTQ+ = Prison
Tickle your Friend’s Feet as a joke in Public? = Prison
Sneezing / Puking in Public? = Prison
Hugging a Friend/Family in Public? Death Penalty 🤣
But it’s okay.. you know why? Because that’s what’s coming to the country California is based off in next month when an •0range• figure returns to power.

yeah so i live there and 99% of what you said is false. maybe learn before typing?

 

[Naraxus]

well they're funding a g e n o c i d e. and proudly so. i think that's more messed up.

Except that there is no g-cide going on in the place I assume you're alluding to.

 

[anshuvorty]

The bottom line is making money and that’s why they were there.

It's the same reason why they are in China, yet there are so many human rights violation and the censorship in that country that we can refer to....

JapanApple hits the nail on the coffin; ethics be damned when it comes to business and especially so if the company is a publicly held company...

 

[Silverado]

There are many Apple Stores in China, a country where people can’t even access internet sites like Google, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube and members of an ethnic minority, the Uyghurs, are put in concentration camps and undergo many kinds of abuse and inhumane treatment by the state. The double standard here is remarkable. I wonder why…

 

[bebarhood]

A very welcoming news!

As a Saudi citizen, I can say that the majority of smart phones users in KSA use iPhones. Apple holds a very strong market share in phones/tablets/smart watches in the country and opening their stores in the largest country in the Middle East is a very smart move (A bit late but better late than never).

 

[macfacts]

tell me you know nothing about the country without actually telling me you know nothing about the country.

so this story should have been in the political section of the forums? do a google news search for saudia arabia fifa soccer stadiums slaves.

 

[gleepskip]

I wouldn’t ever go to any store there.
Being a Female who wants equal rights or if you are LGBTQ+ = Prison
Tickle your Friend’s Feet as a joke in Public? = Prison
Sneezing / Puking in Public? = Prison
Hugging a Friend/Family in Public? Death Penalty 🤣
But it’s okay.. you know why? Because that’s what’s coming to the country California is based off in next month when an •0range• figure returns to power.

People believe all sorts of nonsense on BlueSky.