Middle East smartphone shipments fell 19% year‑on‑year in Q2 2026 to 10.6 million units, marking the region’s sharpest decline since Q4 2025. Despite the downturn, Samsung remained the market leader after its shipments slipped 7% and it held a 39% market share.
Middle East smartphone shipments: causes and vendor performance
The drop in shipments has been attributed to familiar pressures: price increases driven by the AI memory boom and geopolitical uncertainty that has affected the region since February 2026. Those factors combined to reduce overall demand and weigh on volumes across vendors.
Samsung’s strategy in the Middle East balanced volume and profitability, with the Galaxy A series driving significant unit sales while the Galaxy S26 series supported margins. Even with a 7% decline in shipments, Samsung retained leading share at 39%.
Apple stood out as an exception to the broader trend, growing shipments in the region by 1% year‑on‑year. Continued resilience in the premium segment and the strength of its ecosystem helped Apple better withstand the market pressures affecting other manufacturers.
The figures underline a challenging quarter for the Middle Eastern smartphone market, with vendor performances diverging amid rising prices and regional uncertainty.
