Buying an iPhone in Doha airport duty free?

[furou]

Hi,
I’m traveling through Doha airport and I’m thinking about getting an iPhone 11 there. I’d like to make sure the iPhone they sell isn’t limited in anyway like having FaceTime disabled, or any other weird software differences.
Many thanks!

 

[Silvrbill]

Hi,
I’m traveling through Doha airport and I’m thinking about getting an iPhone 11 there. I’d like to make sure the iPhone they sell isn’t limited in anyway like having FaceTime disabled, or any other weird software differences.
Many thanks!

I believe the phones for the Arab market don't have Face Time installed and there is no way to install it on those phones.
You'll need to find out what market it was manufactured for.
I've been in Qatar many times but I can't tell you for sure about the phones they sell there.

 

[furou]

Thanks for the answer!

 

[Super Spartan]

Hi,
I’m traveling through Doha airport and I’m thinking about getting an iPhone 11 there. I’d like to make sure the iPhone they sell isn’t limited in anyway like having FaceTime disabled, or any other weird software differences.
Many thanks!

Not sure about Doha but I do know that in Dubai Duty Free it's the same so I guess that it should have FaceTime.

There are many shops here in Dubai that sell imported iPhones from the US and other parts of the world that have FaceTime and they work flawlessly. Bought an iPhone 1 Pro that way and FaceTime works like a charm with a VPN though. ExpressVPN is what I use.

 

[Andrew McIntosh]

Hi,
I’m traveling through Doha airport and I’m thinking about getting an iPhone 11 there. I’d like to make sure the iPhone they sell isn’t limited in anyway like having FaceTime disabled, or any other weird software differences.
Many thanks!

If you buy an iPhone 11 at Hamad international it will be an international version that won’t gave any restrictions on it and will cost approx £100 less than UK Apple prices, if you purchase your iPhone in Doha itself, then you will have FaceTime removed but your phone will be approx £300 less than Apple UK price! So, how important is FaceTime to you?

There is a way of installing FaceTime in a phone that you bought in Arab states, you will need to jail break the phone then let Apple reinstall genuine update to it - I’ve done this with an iPhone 6, 6s, 8, x and an 11pro. I live in Doha but like to use FaceTime.

Hope this info helps....you may have already purchased one though, looking at your date of post.

 

[furou]

If you buy an iPhone 11 at Hamad international it will be an international version that won’t gave any restrictions on it and will cost approx £100 less than UK Apple prices, if you purchase your iPhone in Doha itself, then you will have FaceTime removed but your phone will be approx £300 less than Apple UK price! So, how important is FaceTime to you?

There is a way of installing FaceTime in a phone that you bought in Arab states, you will need to jail break the phone then let Apple reinstall genuine update to it - I’ve done this with an iPhone 6, 6s, 8, x and an 11pro. I live in Doha but like to use FaceTime.

Hope this info helps....you may have already purchased one though, looking at your date of post.

Thanks! That’s a great answer. Unfortunately they didn’t have the configuration I wanted (Storage size and color) do I ended up not buying.

 

[Lekro]

Slightly off topic but may I ask why do they disable FaceTime there?

 

[Ifti]

Slightly off topic but may I ask why do they disable FaceTime there?

Was just thinking the same!

 

[barracuda156]

Had such a thought and quickly dropped it. Both Doha and Dubai airports have overpriced Apple products.

 

[Pilot Jones]

Slightly off topic but may I ask why do they disable FaceTime there?

Was just thinking the same!

The primary telecommunication company in the UAE is owned by the government and around 89% of the population there are all migrant workers/foreign citizens.

The disabling of FaceTime and other video-calling software through dodgy regulations is to maintain a monetized monopoly on what is in effect an essential service for all foreign nationals who obviously need to stay in touch with their families around the world while living there.

edit: just looked at the dates of posting and realized how long ago you all asked these questions LOL. you probably already have the answer to this question by now 😆

 

[arkitect]

The primary telecommunication company in the UAE is owned by the government and around 89% of the population there are all migrant workers/foreign citizens.

The disabling of FaceTime and other video-calling software through dodgy regulations is to maintain a monetized monopoly on what is in effect an essential service for all foreign nationals who obviously need to stay in touch with their families around the world while living there.

edit: just looked at the dates of posting and realized how long ago you all asked these questions LOL. you probably already have the answer to this question by now 😆

Thanks for the reply. I only saw the thread because of your post. I never realised Facetime (and I assume WhatsApp also) was so controversial. 😄

 

[Lekro]

The primary telecommunication company in the UAE is owned by the government and around 89% of the population there are all migrant workers/foreign citizens.

The disabling of FaceTime and other video-calling software through dodgy regulations is to maintain a monetized monopoly on what is in effect an essential service for all foreign nationals who obviously need to stay in touch with their families around the world while living there.

edit: just looked at the dates of posting and realized how long ago you all asked these questions LOL. you probably already have the answer to this question by now 😆

Actually, I found out the answer from your reply. It was a question out of curiosity, thank you.

 

[Pilot Jones]

Thanks for the reply. I only saw the thread because of your post. I never realised Facetime (and I assume WhatsApp also) was so controversial. 😄

Simple, human requirements mutate into unbelievably complex issues when a country is run by regressive leaders. It is, unfortunately, far too common and the UAE is just one example of a country that successfully profiteers through increased suffering.

 

[Pilot Jones]

Actually, I found out the answer from your reply. It was a question out of curiosity, thank you.

Glad to have finally satiated your curiosity! 😄

 

[barracuda156]

successfully profiteers through increased suffering.

That is literally how every government operates, by definition.

 

[ukms]

Just came across this thread.

Anyone reading or curious. Facetime is no longer removed from devices in the UAE and hasnt been for a couple of years at least.

 

[ukms]

Simple, human requirements mutate into unbelievably complex issues when a country is run by regressive leaders. It is, unfortunately, far too common and the UAE is just one example of a country that successfully profiteers through increased suffering.

Out of interest do you or have you ever lived in the UAE ?

 

[Pilot Jones]

Out of interest do you or have you ever lived in the UAE ?

I have, albeit it was a little while ago, in the 2010s for a few years. However, I did visit again in early 2020 and the situation was still the same back then. No FaceTime on new iPhones and even a lot of international iPhones had problems using FaceTime unless a VPN was being used. I had to use a VPN for every FaceTime call using my UK-bought iPhone.

I read your earlier post just now though and I'm glad they've done an about turn on that inane policy 👍

 

[ukms]

I have, albeit it was a little while ago, in the 2010s for a few years. However, I did visit again in early 2020 and the situation was still the same back then. No FaceTime on new iPhones and even a lot of international iPhones had problems using FaceTime unless a VPN was being used. I had to use a VPN for every FaceTime call using my UK-bought iPhone.

I read your earlier post just now though and I'm glad they've done an about turn on that inane policy 👍

Things have changed a lot but some things are still perplexing, VPN is still the best option for FaceTime to make it stable but the important thing is that the app is there on the locally purchased devices. The prices are also pretty good here (for me being from the UK) because of the exchange rates currently.