Russia hasn’t had problems with Apple products for a long time — since spring 2022, when the company decided to suspend sales. Then everything quickly normalized, suppliers found workarounds, and the government gave the “green light” to parallel imports. Russians forgot about Apple product issues for a long time, aside from some “minor things” like new apps or Apple Pay. But suddenly, a MacBook shortage crept up from where no one expected — my friend can’t buy one even in Moscow.
Finding a Mac in Russia has become very difficult
Until recently, nearly 75% of all MacBooks and iPhones entering Russia came through the United Arab Emirates. It was the main transit hub: convenient logistics, neutral jurisdiction, no obvious restrictions on re-export. But in early March 2026, due to armed escalation in the Middle East, the UAE temporarily closed its airspace, and the key port of Jebel Ali is not operating.
What does this mean? Along with thousands of tourists, shipments of MacBooks are stuck in Dubai — those that were in transit or in warehouses. They are all blocked indefinitely until the Middle East escalation subsides. New Mac shipments from China and Hong Kong have also been suspended because planes are not flying into the conflict zone. And Apple itself has temporarily closed its Apple Stores in Dubai.
Apple Stores in Dubai are also closed. Photo: theapplepost.com
Against this backdrop, MacBook sales in Russia have also been suspended. Although on Ozon, the seller Dubai Duty-Free still accepts orders and even lists reasonable delivery dates — March 11-12. In reality, the goods will take a very long time to ship until the situation stabilizes or new delivery routes are found. And that’s certainly not a matter of one or two weeks.
Apple product sellers from Dubai aren’t changing their deadlines, but in reality the order will arrive very late or be canceled entirely
Russian Apple product sellers are urgently looking for workarounds — through Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan, China, and other countries. But these routes have serious drawbacks:
- Lower throughput capacity — they can’t replace Dubai instantly;
- Increased delivery times;
- Additional costs for fuel, insurance, and customs procedures.
All of this directly impacts MacBook prices. You can safely expect a 20–30% increase in MacBook prices in the coming weeks, as well as the absence of new products that Apple is about to announce. Sellers are already working with remaining stock and frequently raising prices due to uncertainty. For now, you can buy a MacBook from whatever assortment is available. And you also need to carefully plan your budget — prices are unlikely to return to their previous levels anytime soon.
