How to sell your old iPhone in the UAE
In this guide
Prepare the phone first, then sell it: back up your data, move it to your new iPhone, sign out of your Apple Account, erase the phone and remove the SIM card. Erasing turns off Find My and Activation Lock, so the next owner can set it up. Then sell it through 3ash.ae, the business in our group that buys devices.
How do you prepare your iPhone before you sell it?
These steps follow Apple's own checklist for selling or giving away an iPhone. The menu names are as they appear in iOS 26 and later.
- Back up your iPhone. Connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Stay on Wi-Fi until the backup finishes.
- Move your data to your new iPhone. Turn on the new iPhone, place it next to the old one and follow the Quick Start steps on screen. Keep both phones close together and plugged in until the transfer is complete.
- Unpair your Apple Watch, if you use one with this iPhone.
- Sign out of your Apple Account. Open Settings, tap your name, scroll down and tap Sign Out. Choose to erase the iPhone when it is offered, and if you are asked which account, tap Sign out of iCloud and Store.
- Erase the iPhone. If it was not erased in the previous step, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, enter your passcode and confirm. If the phone uses an eSIM, choose to erase the eSIM too when asked.
- Remove the SIM card. Insert the SIM-eject tool or a paper clip into the small hole beside the SIM tray and push gently, without forcing it. Take out the card and put the tray back.
Apple lists a few final checks: remove the old iPhone from the trusted devices on your Apple Account, and if your next phone is not an iPhone, deregister iMessage. If you have an AppleCare plan, you can cancel it or transfer it to the new owner.
Why not delete your data item by item?
Apple warns that while you are signed in to iCloud, deleting contacts, photos or documents by hand removes them permanently from iCloud and from all your connected devices. Erase All Content and Settings clears the phone without deleting what you have stored in iCloud, which is why it is the right way to prepare a phone for sale.
Why does Activation Lock matter to the buyer?
Activation Lock is part of Find My. While it is on, your Apple Account password is needed before anyone can turn off Find My, erase the phone or set it up again. Apple advises buyers not to take a used iPhone that is still linked to the previous owner's account, and says a device is ready to use when it shows the Hello screen. Signing out and erasing, as above, is what brings your phone to that screen.
How does selling through 3ash.ae work?
3ash.ae is the business in our group that buys devices from people. On its website you choose your model and its condition, and you see a price offer before you commit to anything. 3ash.ae then confirms the price when it inspects the device.
3ash.ae offers a free pickup from your door in any of the seven emirates, or you can send the device in, and its website explains each step before you book. Start at 3ash.ae.
When should you buy your next iPhone?
The easiest order is to buy your next iPhone first, move your data across with Quick Start, and then prepare and sell the old one. At 3ASH DEVICE every pre-owned iPhone is inspected with Phonecheck, more than 80 checks, before it is listed, and graded Excellent, Very Good or Good by its looks. Each comes with a 12-month 3ASH warranty and 10-day returns, and delivery is free to all seven emirates, usually within 1 to 2 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to remove my SIM card before selling my iPhone?
Yes. Take out the physical SIM card and keep it for your next phone. If the iPhone uses an eSIM, choose to erase it along with the phone when you are asked.
Does erasing my iPhone delete my iCloud data?
No. Apple says your content is not deleted from iCloud when you erase the device. Just make sure your backup has finished before you erase.
What if I sold the phone without signing out?
Contact the new owner and ask them to erase all content and settings using the steps above. Apple also advises removing the phone from your list of trusted devices and changing your Apple Account password, which stops the new owner from deleting your information from iCloud.
How does 3ash.ae set its price?
By the model and its condition. You see the offer on its website before you commit to anything, and 3ash.ae confirms the price when it inspects the device.
Can I sell an older iPhone?
3ash.ae lists the iPhone models it buys on its website, including earlier models such as iPhone 8 and iPhone SE. Check your model there when you start.
Browse pre-owned iPhone at 3ASH DEVICE and compare conditions in our condition guide. When your old phone is ready, get your offer at 3ash.ae. For help choosing, read our guide on whether a used iPhone is worth buying.
