iOS 26 in UAE: When Will iPhone Users Get This Update? Full Schedule and Compatibility List

Will Your iPhone Get iOS 26 In UAE? What Apple Didn’t Say At WWDC

For iPhone users in the UAE, Apple’s new iOS 26 update is going to be a big tech moment. Apple officially announced iOS 26 during its yearly event WWDC 2025. This new operating system brings performance improvements, new features, and visual upgrades.

Along with iOS, Apple also introduced macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. But the biggest question for iPhone users is “When will this update come to the UAE and is my iPhone eligible?” This article answers that clearly.

When Will iOS 26 Launch in the UAE?

Apple launched the first developer beta version of iOS 26 right after the event. That means developers have already started testing it. The public beta version will likely come around July.

Last year, the iOS 17 public beta came on July 15, so this time too it is expected around the same date. The final stable update will be available for UAE users in the fall season (September-October) as Apple has confirmed.

Which iPhones Will Get iOS 26?

Apple has officially said that iOS 26 will be given to devices that are iPhone 11 or newer. So if you have iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, then you are eligible.

Here is the list of iPhones that will support iOS 26:

• iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Which Devices Will Not Get The iOS 26 Update?

If you are using iPhone XR, iPhone XS or XS Max, then you will not get iOS 26 this time. Apple has officially removed these older models from the support list.

But don’t worry, Apple will keep giving security patches and important updates for these old devices under iOS 18, so your phone will stay safe and usable.

What Did Apple Show for iOS 26 at WWDC 2025?

In this year’s WWDC 2025 event, Apple showed some major features and system improvements for iOS 26. The focus was more on visual interface and performance upgrades.

One thing was clear, Apple did not announce anything new about AI. But based on last year’s Apple Intelligence update, it is confirmed that AI features will only work on the latest models like iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone 16 series.

So if your iPhone is not compatible with AI features, you will still get the full general iOS 26 update, only without Apple Intelligence features.

What Should UAE Users Do?

If you are using an iPhone in UAE and your device is iPhone 11 or newer, then you don’t need to do anything. When the iOS 26 stable version rolls out globally, the update will come to your phone too. You can also go to Settings > General > Software Update to check manually when the release date is near. However, if you want to use the iOS 26 in your phone before the stable version rollout, then you can easily do that. You just have to join the Apple developers program and enroll for the iOS 26 beta. And then, you can see the update in your iPhone’s settings and then go to software update. Here you’ll see the option for iOS 26 Beta update and now you just have to download and you are good to go.

But if your device is in the unsupported list, then you can plan to buy a new phone or keep using the current one with iOS 18 security updates.

Conclusion

Apple’s iOS 26 update is coming this fall season for iPhone users in the UAE. All models from iPhone 11 and newer will get this update for free. iPhone XR, XS and XS Max users will not get the update, but Apple will still support those devices. Even though there was no talk of AI in WWDC 2025, iOS 26 once again shows that Apple is improving its system every year.

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