The global smartphone market has witnessed a slowdown in recent quarters but things are different in the Middle East where customers' purchasing power is significantly higher, which is why companies like Samsung and Apple are increasingly focusing in that region. Samsung particularly wants to retain its top spot in the Middle East which is why it wasn't surprising to see it choose Dubai as the launch pad for a world tour event across seven countries for promoting the Galaxy S6.
Latest data from market research firm IDC shows that on May 20 the total smartphone supplies to six Gulf nations, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates combined posted a growth of 32 percent year-over-year. That's pretty steep considering that the global smartphone market barely hung on to 10 percent growth rate during the same period.
Since purchasing power is high smartphone manufacturers can aggressively push their premium products and in Samsung's case that would be the Galaxy S6 edge. Samsung has recently launched a couple of promos to market the handset and the promos are set in Dubai. Apple certainly won't let Samsung take the lead easily, the company is reportedly going to open its largest retail store in the world inside Dubai's Mall of the Emirates later this year.
