iPhone Shipments to Gulf Countries Saw Double-Digit Growth in Q4 2020

In the fourth quarter of 2020, Apple saw its iPhone shipments in Gulf countries increase by 55% compared to the quarter prior, thanks to the launch of the 5G enabled ‌iPhone‌ 12 and last year's ‌iPhone‌ 11 lineup, according to market research by IDC.

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In total, the region saw smartphone shipments grow by 2.3% in the last quarter of the year compared to Q3, to a total of 2.26 million units. Specifically, Saudi Arabia represented nearly half of all smartphones shipped in the region for Q4. However, it witnessed an overall decline in shipments compared to the previous quarter. The UAE represented 26.1% of smartphone shipments for the region in the quarter and saw overall growth compared to Q3.

Quarter-on-quarter, Apple saw a significant increase of 55% in ‌‌iPhone‌‌ shipments, growth that was primarily enabled by the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ and last year's ‌‌iPhone‌ 11‌ lineup. Akash Balachandran, IDC's senior research analyst, says that if it were not for shortages amongst Apple's supply chain, ‌iPhone‌ shipments would have been more prominent in the quarter.

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Apple still, however, rests behind Samsung as the leading smartphone maker in the region. Samsung holds 42% of the market share for the GCC, 3% less than it did the previous quarter. Apple saw its market share increase by 7% to 23% in the final quarter of the year.

Tag: IDC

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Top Rated Comments

miric Avatar
53 months ago
All of them are in gold finish I suppose.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bebarhood Avatar
53 months ago
I live in Saudi Arabia, and trust me when I say, the digital transformation over here is remarkable. The country is pushing for digital platforms very aggressively. Their 5G implementation and coverage is moving fast.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SpiritSoul1008 Avatar
53 months ago
Boaty McBoatFace getting stuck there isn't helping Apple's numbers.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5232152 Avatar
53 months ago
They got more money per capita than basically anywhere else in the world so not that surprising. Good on them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoshuaBru Avatar
53 months ago
So that’s what’s in all those containers blocking the Suez Canal
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
53 months ago

Thanks for the Data !

I had never seen a breakdown for this region before, thanks !
Just be wary. These are official "estimates" from a third party source.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)