No FaceTime on iPhone XR bought in Dubai

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Level 1

9 points

No FaceTime on iPhone XR bought in Dubai

Hi, I live in Sri Lanka and during a 3 day visit to Dubai I bought a iPhone XR! Now the sales girl did not tell me that even though there’s no face time facility in Dubai, it would not work in Sri Lanka as well even though FaceTime is freely available in my country! When I contacted Apple support all they could tell me was that FaceTime would not work on this iPhone anyway and I could return it! That’ll mean I have to return to Dubai who’s impractical! Has anyone had a similar experience and any solutions?

iPhone XR, iOS 13

Posted on Oct 29, 2019 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 29, 2019 2:05 PM in response to Rythm Surfer

You were given the solution already. If you can't make a FaceTime call on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

There is no way for you to have facetime on that phone, since you bought it in a country where facetime is banned.

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Answer 2

Rythm Surfer Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2019 1:53 AM in response to razmee209

@razmee209!

that is NOT a solution! That’s a cop out! With all the technology at Apple’s disposal they should be able to address this issue to the customer’s satisfaction! Especially when it was a clear FAULT from the Apple salesperson for NOT informing a tourist in Dubai about this issue BEFORE buying the iPhone even when told that I was from Sri Lanka and was there only for 3 days! This is Very DISAPPOINTING from Apple!

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Answer 3

Oct 30, 2019 8:27 AM in response to Rythm Surfer

FACETIME has been banned by the government in Dubai, no if and or buts about it.

There is absolutely nothing you can do to get Facetime on that phone.

Buyers should always do their research first and not rely on salespeople.

Please take your anger out on the Dubai government.

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2019 8:42 AM in response to Rythm Surfer

Do not blame Apple for this. FaceTime is banned in Dubai, that's a rule the UAE government has made.

Every iPhone sold in the UAE does not have FaceTime, and there is no way to add FaceTime later on, it depends on the model number, every iPhone has a unique Serial Number and the Model Number is also different for every market the phone is sold.

You should have known this, aswell as the fact that your one year warranty is only valid in the country where the phone is purchased. Your Dubai iPhone does not have any warranty except in Dubai. Please inform yourself next time before you buy something expensive as an iPhone.

Question: If you are from Sri Lanka, why not just buy an iPhone there? Why in Dubai? Where the Rules are different? You have a 14 day return period btw. You can now travel back to Dubai, return the phone for a full refund and then use your money to buy an iPhone in Sri Lanka, i guess the iPhones there do have FaceTime.

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No FaceTime on iPhone XR bought in Dubai

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