Apple’s plans on opening retails stores in the United Arab Emirates continue to be engulfed in mystery. Nevertheless, rumours are still alive and heated by posts about UAE-based jobs at the company. The latest wave of Apple UAE-based job offers is stronger and more suggestive than ever.
UAE Genius Wanted
On March 30 (Monday), Apple posted 13 job listings on its official website all of which are based in the United Arab Emirates. One of the job position is for a “Genius” Part of the skills and qualifications an applicants should have for this position are “empathetic nature” and “consumer service brilliance.”
For those who are unfamiliar with the structure of a typical Apple Store, the Genius position can certainly sound quite unusual and intriguing. The truth, however, is that this job title is used for the experts who work at the Genius Bar in Apple’s retail stores. The Genius Bar is the tech support station available in the big Apple Stores.
UAE Apple Store Saga
This new job listing definitely hints back to the highly anticipated UAE Apple Stores. In fact, all other 12 job offers for the country posted on March 30 suggest the same. The job function of each of them is tagged as “retail store” Moreover, almost all of the job listings mention an Apple Store in their job descriptions.
So when will Apple open its first retail store in the United Arab Emirates? One of the job listings may hide the answer to that question. The job description for UAE Apple Store Leader Program explains that this positions will be part of a 2-year program. The start of the program will be September 2015. Is it possible for the U.S. giant to launch its first retail stores in the fall of this year?
Apple Watch UAE Debut
If the technology giant truly intends to open retail stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the third or fourth quarter of 2015, the event could coincide with the second wave of Apple Watch releases. This April, the company will launch its wearable in 9 countries. According to Apple Insider, the giant is preparing to introduce new Apple Watch models this fall. That is also when Apple is finally expected to make the gadget available across more markets.
It is very much likely UAE to be included in the second wave of Apple Watch launches. The official online store for the country says that the wearable will arrive to UAE consumers in 2015, although it does not give details when exactly. Therefore, Dubai and Abu Dhabi consumers may not only get an Apple Store by the end of the year, but also the chance to purchase an Apple Watch.
Earlier rumours have stated that Apple will open two or even three Apple Stores in the United Arab Emirates. They will be based in Dubai in Abu Dhabi. The store in Dubai is expected to be located in the Mall of the Emirates. Rumours about it started after a series of Dubai-based jobs listings were posted on Apple’s website in mid-August 2014. The store was predicted to be ready by early-2015, but there is still not sign of it.
The Abu Dhabi retail outlet, on the other hand, was expected to open doors in mid-2015 after a flood of job offers appeared online back in January this year.
Apple has already opened five stores since the start of 2015. All five of them are located in China and were launched in a matter of 50 days. UAE could be next on the list!
