iPhone 3G (Officially Unlocked in Hong Kong) Should work in the UAE?

It seems likely that only someone who has already done what you plan to do could really answer your questions, and you may well be the first. As for the statements made by the Hong Kong store, it's quite possible they only apply to Hong Kong. The iPhone is not yet offered in the UAE and this country is also not on the list of "coming soon."

http://www.apple.com/iphone/countries/

But perhaps someone else has better info...

Warranty service is only provided in the country of purchase.

Why risk it? Just wait for the iphone to be officially sold in your country.

"The law states that there has to be no exclusivity. Furthermore I've waited too LONG for the iPhone to be sold officially in this country."

There is no exclusivity if the iPhone isn't sold there, is there, particularly if the iPhone cannot be used by all carriers in the country because it isn't there?

Others who have accepted exclusivity in other countries who roam there with roaming agreements are obviously in a different situation, as are unofficial importers (even for personal use) but in a different way that gives little or no scope for complaint?

Frustrating, yes, maybe, but that is the reality of life for most people most of the time to one degree or another, wouldn't you say?

You don't need to get one from Hong Kong. I bought an unlocked iPhone from a phone kiosk at the Marina mall in Abu Dhabi a couple of days ago (aed 3300) and my wife bought one in the duty free area of Abu Dhabi airport (aed 3500). Both phones are fully unlocked and we've updated both and added applications from the Apple app store without problems. All functions work. No activation was required and both worked right away with etslt sim cards. We're now in Lebanon using alfa sim cards in the iphones. Arabic isn't supported yet.

Etisalat automatically adds a link to their cellular data network inside the Network settings of the iPhone. If you don't want charges on your bill you need to go to the iphone settings and delete that link.

Last month I bought officially unlocked 8 GB Iphone from AbuDhabi dutyfree shop on airport. I paid 680$ for it. It is working fine in India. I have 2.2 version right now. I am very scared to update this phone to 2.2.1 and later on 3.0. Has anybody updated software on officially unlocked phone. Please let me know.
thanks in advance.

I also use an unlocked iPhone from Hong Kong. To answer you questions:

1. Will It Work in the United Arab Emirates
Yes if you have a GSM carrier.

2. How do I Activate it with this (UAE ETSLT) Carrier
Plug in the SIM card into the phone, connect to iTunes, it'll automatically verify the SIM and activate the phone, after this, you no longer have to re-activate every time you switch SIM cards.

3. Will all of its functions work (Such as GPS, WiFi & YouTube)& SMS?
Yes, as long as you get a data plan from your carrier.

4. Will I be able to use software update with it?
Yes.

5. Can it be activated from my country (The United Arab Emirates)?
Yes, you just need itunes and internet.

6. Will I need an iTunes Store A/C to Activate it?
No, but you'll need an account to download apps. It's free to sign up an account although I don't think there are itunes UAE stores.

Remember that these officially unlocked iphones are meant to do everything that the carrier-locked phones do, you simply have the freedom of switching SIM cards. Visual Voice mail will not work because the carrier in the UAE doesn't support it yet.

Another thing is that in order to buy the iPhone in Hong Kong, you have to have it shipped to a Hong Kong address. No P.O. boxes or hotels. So you have know someone in Hong Kong who can get it for you. You can't just go to Hong Kong and buy one at the apple store. In fact, the ones they sell in store are locked.

As far as I know, Apple doesn't sell iPhones in Abu Dabi. They are either officially unlocked phones imported from somewhere else or illegally unlocked ones.

Officially unlocked phones will have no problems upgrading, if you truly believe you have an officially unlocked one, then simply go ahead and upgrade.

Bought my Official unlocked 3G iPhone in Paris when I lived in Belgium. Just add the chip of your local provider and that's it ! Provider must use a sim chip to work. Some companies only use a serial code of some sort. Relocated to the USA recently and have it working with T-Mobile.
ATT would only give me a 2 year plan for the iphone.
Same high fees as someone who gets the $200 dollar phone with it.

kevin, for warranty purposes, where do you take your unlocked iphone for service? do you have to send it directly back to apple?