Buying iPad3 in Dubai for UK use

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iknowgungfu

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
60
0
Hey all,

I have been trying to find out (with little success) if an iPad3 bought at Dubai airport would be fully functional in the UK? I have a UK account for my iPhone etc but am unsure whether a non-EU/UK iPad would be fully functional when back in UK.

I have heard that Facetime would not be available for iPads bought over there.

Cheers in advance folks!
 
M

marty1990

macrumors 6502
Nov 25, 2011
395
13
England
Now I might be wrong, but am pretty sure every iPad in every country is exactly the same. The only difference is with the mains adapter, but you could get a UK one. This is for wifi, though. I dunno about 4G.
 
B

barkomatic

macrumors 601
Aug 8, 2008
4,043
1,822
Manhattan
iknowgungfu said:
Hey all,

I have been trying to find out (with little success) if an iPad3 bought at Dubai airport would be fully functional in the UK? I have a UK account for my iPhone etc but am unsure whether a non-EU/UK iPad would be fully functional when back in UK.

I have heard that Facetime would not be available for iPads bought over there.

Cheers in advance folks!
Click to expand...
Yes, it will be fully functional. As long as you sign in with your UK based iTunes account (while in the UK ) then you'll be good to go with a wifi only iPad purchased anywhere. Any other streaming app that requires a subscription of some kind will work while in the U.K. if you sign in.

However, if you take the iPad out of the U.K. and try to rent, buy or stream media while abroad you may not be permitted to do so. Media already purchased should work fine though.
 
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tiptopp

tiptopp

macrumors regular
Aug 15, 2008
225
2
Norwich, UK
marty1990 said:
Now I might be wrong, but am pretty sure every iPad in every country is exactly the same. The only difference is with the mains adapter, but you could get a UK one. This is for wifi, though. I dunno about 4G.
Click to expand...
This - I bought mine in the States, and it works perfectly here in the UK.

Tiptopp
 
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iknowgungfu

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
60
0
Ahhh. So I wouldnt be able to activate it in Dubai? My account is uk based for all my iPods and iPhones.
 
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dchao

macrumors 6502a
May 20, 2008
522
0
Yes, you can sign into your UK iTunes account from anywhere. I'm in the UK right now, signed into my US account.

iPad charger is international, but you probably won't get the UK plug version, you might need an adapter when you get back to the UK.
 
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D

dchao

macrumors 6502a
May 20, 2008
522
0
iknowgungfu said:
Cheers for info all!
Just hope the price is worth it (got my hopes up now!)
Click to expand...
Can I ask how much it is at the Dubai Airport?

Also if you have the Facetime app preloaded on your iPad, then it should work when you are in Dubai. Just make sure the time and time zone is correctly set, otherwise, FaceTime wouldn't be able to locate yor iPad.
 
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iknowgungfu

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
60
0
I am not sure but fly there in early September. Not sure about it now though as lots of websites state that FaceTime is removed on all UAE apple products......
 
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iknowgungfu

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
60
0
ziffos said:
I am also sure that your Facetime will NOT work - all other functions will be fine.
Click to expand...
Dealbreaker for me then. I use it quite a lot on my iPhone to chat to my nieces. Despite Skype doing the same thing they are used to facetime.


May just bite the bullet and get one here instead (unless duty free dixons at Manchetser airport are cheaper......)
 
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iknowgungfu

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
60
0
I am positive now that Facetime is impossible to install on any iPAD bought in UAE/Dubai. Apparently the app is completely forbidden by the government there and the facetime app is locked out for any serial number originating in UAE.

Cheers for all the help though. Think I need to get one here instead (unless the dubai stores stock EU stock ;))
 
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