Prime Highlights
- Apple unveils its first fully Arabized e-commerce website in Saudi Arabia, increasing online retail for Saudi consumers.
- It provides same-day delivery, multi-language functionality, Arabic engraving, and additional payment methods.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia is the 40th country worldwide to have an Apple-localized e-commerce website.
- Apple to open its first standalone store in the Kingdom in 2026, with a Diriyah flagship in development.
Key Background
Apple took a giant leap towards spreading its presence in the Middle East when it launched a fully Arabic-language website store in Saudi Arabia. The site is live and offers regional touches like support for the Arabic language, next-day shipping, and tailored support. Having the site live, Apple is not only spreading accessibility but also demonstrating its commitment to the increasingly large Saudi consumer market.
The store introduces a range of simple-to-use services. Arabic and English engraving on certain items such as AirPods, Apple Pencil, and AirTags are available for purchase by customers. Apple has also partnered with Tamara to facilitate interest-free monthly payments. AppleCare+, a protection service, can be purchased with simple monthly payments, and the Apple Trade In program allows customers to exchange their used products for credit towards new products.
Apple has also provided instructors and students with customized solutions via the Apple Education Store, with discounted hardware prices. It is even running a small back-to-school promotion where customers can get AirPods or Apple Pencils free of charge when they buy specific Mac or iPad products. All these in Apple’s efforts to drive learning and digital adoption within the region.
Apple plans to establish its first Saudi Arabian physical store within five years by 2026. It also plans to have another flagship store in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The plans are in Apple’s long-term strategy of investing in the digital economy of the Kingdom. Some of the investments were over SAR 10 billion on facility expansion such as the Apple Developer Academy, driving innovation and the development of local talents.
