TALAH TURK (ABU DHABI)
In an era of next-day delivery, affordable alternatives, and inexpensive knockoffs, many customers are choosing to discard or trade in their damaged phones, watches, and other personal gadgets rather than repair them. Is the same trend evident in Abu Dhabi's repair sector?
Repairing Equals Saving
Mehar from Just Fix Electronics told Aletihad that 85–90% of customers prefer to repair their gadgets, "even if it's only worth Dh100", while the remaining 10–15% choose to toss them away and buy new ones.
"Just a little while ago, a lady walked in with a coffee machine worth Dh120, asking us to fix it. She ended up paying Dh30 for the repair," he said.
He also shared a contrasting example. "A gentleman came in yesterday with a TV, and we quoted him Dh400 to fix it. He said: 'But for Dh1,000, I can buy a new one.' So, I told him, sure, but you're spending Dh1,000 on a new TV, whereas if you fix it here, you're saving Dh600 - and we provide a warranty on top of that."
He explained that, in most cases, repairing a device allows customers to save money compared with buying a replacement.
Customer's Choice
Joseph from Royal Mobile told Aletihad that the decision ultimately comes down to personal preference. He offers customers both the option to repair their device or replace it, leaving the final decision up to them.
He believes the deciding factor for customers is weigh up the cost of the repairs and the price of a new device.
Joseph noted that motherboard replacements are typically among the most expensive phone repairs, while repairs for older iPhone models can cost as little as Dh50.
Depending on the issue, phone repairs can take as little as 30 minutes and no more than two days to complete, which means it is time-efficient.
Bigger Brands Worth Repair Costs
Adnan of Abu Imran Watch Repair has been repairing watches since 1998, following in the footsteps of his father, who opened the shop in Abu Dhabi in 1968.
He told Aletihad that he has not seen a decline in demand for repairs, as most of the shop's customers are local regulars who have been coming for years to maintain their high-end watch collections. His personal favourite brands to work on are Rolex, Chopard and Cartier.
In his experience, mainly watches from major brands are consistently brought in for repair. Newer, cheaper watches are often replaced without a second thought.
He pointed to the availability of good-quality first copies as another factor that makes replacement an easy choice for many customers.
As for repair times, "if the parts are available, it's done on the spot and usually takes a couple of hours at most. If they're available through wholesalers in the UAE, then it would be done within a couple of days." The only time repairs take longer is when parts need to be ordered from abroad.
He added that independent repair shops like his can also be a more convenient option, as sending a watch to a major brand can mean leaving it in the company's possession for a month or two.