Apple Store Coming to Saudi Arabia Both Online and In Person

[theorist9]

Given the huge appetite for high-end goods in Saudi Arabia, what's the reason Apple hasn't had a store there all along? And, relatedly, what changed to make this happen? That sort of context would have been helpful, but is unfortunately missing from this article.

For instance, their first store in the UAE opened about a decade ago and, as the article mentioned, they now have four. Not surprisingly, given the country's affluence, they are among the highest-volume Apple stores in the world. I'd expect you'd see similar traffic with the Saudi Arabian stores.

Is the delay because, while homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment in the UAE, it's punishable by death in Saudi Arabia? [See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Middle_East#:~:text=All same-sex activity is,, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. ] If so, why change now?

 

[gleepskip]

In my opinion no stories should be classified as "political", but it is very strange that this one has escaped that label. Very inconsistent application.

Moderators are asleep, I suppose. This thread will be thinned out or moved.

 

[Evagoras2001]

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

Amnesty international says otherwise​

 

[clypeme]

i don't get the obsession. you think they should ban the product to all the people there because the country is not accepting? and he cannot be himself? im pretty sure he's there for business. i don't understand why his sexuality should be visble in place of BUSINESS.

So if he was straight should he keep his sexuality out of the public eye? I doubt you’d say this. Having sexual relations with a person of the same sex in Saudi Arabia is a crime. They could be punished by capital punishment, fogging, jail time or fines. You have privilege as you’re obviously straight.

 

[cicalinarrot]

i don't get the obsession. you think they should ban the product to all the people there because the country is not accepting? and he cannot be himself? im pretty sure he's there for business. i don't understand why his sexuality should be visble in place of BUSINESS.

You didn't get the argument at all. Nobody says he should "show his sexuality" in business (which, by the way... don't people talk about their wife/husband everyday as chitchat at work? Should gay people never mention their partners? That'd be horribly homophobic to me).
It just makes it clearer that Apple's ideals are, of course, worth less than money.

To people accusing Cook personally of hyprocrisy, though... don't.
We cannot possibly know how much he personally cares about these issues but he surely couldn't show it or blow a deal over this. It'd destroy his life, very much including his relationship to his sexuality. Which makes him a regular ultrarich CEO, not a worse one. And this is the only kind of situation in which I try to empathize with such people.

 

[steve09090]

As Cook says. To be a part of the solution, you have to be in the conversation.

You can’t be a player if you’re not in the game. He cannot influence any change if he denies Saudi access to Apple.

Even consider Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton wears a pride helmet there in support of LGBTQ and there are no ramifications.

 

[AeroEd]

yeah but that's completely irrelevant.

It’s business

 

[cicalinarrot]

Canada uses temporary foreign workers who are often over worked and under payed and often are the mercy of their employers here in Canada as their visa and stay in Canada tied to that said job.

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7293495

Please don’t go around saying stuff without educating yourself and assuming the other parts of the world are inferior because they don’t hide their abuses like some countries do.

I used to live in Dubai and those of us in the West like to pretend it doesn’t have any of these problems or abuses but they are just systemically different but they are no different.

#whataboutism

 

[ProQuiz]

I love how Western countries/people always play their fake "moral high ground" when looking and judging other countries when in reality they have the same or worse things going on in their own countries right in front of their face that they apparently have no issues with.

 

[R2FX]

..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.. :/

you don't like your Qatari neighbors?))

I'm sure you will know someone in KSA to get the goods... turn by turn was nonexistent in KSA too, don't despair. Once they fix KSA, they'll do rest of GCC too

 

[svish]

Good to hear about Apple's expansion plans in the region. Having an option to buy directly from Apple will be good for the people in the region. Will be nice to have more Apple stores in major cities across the world.

 

[-BigMac-]

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

Didn't realise Apple supports one of the worst Human Rights violation countries in the world. Money talks hey, so much for all those values Apple stands for😉

 

[-BigMac-]

Typical Western hypocrite.

Im from Australia. What human rights violations am I being hypocritical of?

 

[ProQuiz]

Im from Australia. What human rights violations am I being hypocritical of?

Do you support Israel?

 

[ProQuiz]

You’re not very good at this.

I don't have to be considering how "good" you are.

 

[-BigMac-]

Do you support Israel?

You failed to state how I am a hypocrite.
Thanks for your sweeping stereotypical condescending comment against westerners. Cute attempt at trying to hijack the thread

 

[ProQuiz]

You failed to state how I am a hypocrite.
Thanks for your sweeping stereotypical condescending comment against westerners. Cute attempt at trying to hijack the thread

You failed to prove how your countries are so free from everything you think we should be better at.

 

[-BigMac-]

You failed to prove how your countries are so free from everything you think we should be better at.

Re-read my original comment. You know, the one that triggered you so much😂
Has all your answers.

Kinda funny stance you have - slandering westerners, while at the same time, defending one of the biggest western companies, on a westerner run forum😂

 

[steve09090]

You failed to state how I am a hypocrite.
Thanks for your sweeping stereotypical condescending comment against westerners. Cute attempt at trying to hijack the thread

Deleted. This isn’t a political thread so we can’t discuss Australia’s Racism.

 

[thettareddast]

The depths of Cook’s depravity to “make line go up” knows no bounds.

I think the *people* of KSA should have a right to purchase Apple's goods, actually.

And if you don't morally support the company, you have a right to express that by *not* buying their stuff.

When can we expect all your Apple products to go up on Craigslist? Or is this luxury moral signaling -- the act of professing beliefs that actually does not affect oneself?

 

[thettareddast]

So if he was straight should he keep his sexuality out of the public eye? I doubt you’d say this. Having sexual relations with a person of the same sex in Saudi Arabia is a crime.

Nobody should know should know what your sexuality is in public. Do you have sexual relations with a person with the same or opposite sex in open view in the United States or what?

 

[grover5]

I think the *people* of KSA should have a right to purchase Apple's goods, actually.

And if you don't morally support the company, you have a right to express that by *not* buying their stuff.

When can we expect all your Apple products to go up on Craigslist? Or is this luxury moral signaling -- the act of professing beliefs that actually does not affect oneself?

He or she also has a right to express their disgust at the greed being exhibited. Cool down tiger. Everyone has rights of expression.

 

[joiwomcow]

Golly, those phones will cost an arm and a leg.

...and another arm, leg, and torso.

 

[Manzanito]

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?

Believing is something, punishing those who act contrary to said beliefs is a different game. It’s horrid, and against what apple used to stand up for.

 

[System603]

Nobody should know should know what your sexuality is in public. Do you have sexual relations with a person with the same or opposite sex in open view in the United States or what?

Public (park, square, …) displays of affection such as holding hands, light kissing, hugging or sitting on a partner's lap are both legal and common among partners of opposite or same sex in the EU at least. Can't speak for the US.

Of course excessive ones could lead to some get a room comments or a fine if they were really excessive and done in front of minors for example.

But not a capital punishment. And these are for actual public actions, not for a mere status or actions done in privacy of one's home.

I'm glad Tim could freely live a life with a partner in my country. Sadly, that doesn't mean everything is 100% here either.


Edit: I'm replying to a reply in the same post as this got locked under politics. Sorry for the inconvenience.

And what do you suppose is the actual law regarding public displays of affection in the KSA? And how it applies to foreigners such as Tim Cook?

I'm vaguely familiar with 2019 changes. I did not know that they allowed for public displays of affection for same sex couples. Glad to hear that.

Funny enough, I'm not sure if you realize it's not uncommon or strange for men to hold hands in Muslim countries....

Funnily enough, I very much do. And not just holding hands. I even danced with male friends in Iran as it was much easier legally and culturally to do so in semi-public space than with our female friends with which we were not in family relationship. Either way, none of us were same sex couples.