Samsung Galaxy S26 series is now available for pre-order in the United Arab Emirates, with retail sales due from March 11, 2026. The line-up — Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra — brings deeper on-device AI, a 200MP flagship camera and the Ultra’s built-in Privacy Display. This story explains what buyers in the UAE need to know: exact prices, key specs, launch timings, and carrier offers.
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Galaxy S26 lineup officially announced
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 family at Galaxy Unpacked on Feb 25, 2026. The series is a clear push toward “AI phones”: smarter camera tools, on-device assistants, and proactive system features that run with lower latency. For UAE users, the S26 line arrives with regional pricing and trade-in offers from Samsung’s UAE store and authorised retailers.
Models, displays, and design
Line-up: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Displays: Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels across the range, adaptive 1–120Hz refresh, and high peak brightness for outdoor use. The Ultra uses a 6.9-inch QHD+ panel; S26 is ~6.3″ and S26+ is ~6.7″.
- Build: Refined camera island, aluminum frame, and Corning glass. The Ultra keeps a premium feel but uses lighter materials for thermal control.
Photography and video
- S26 Ultra: 200MP main sensor with wider aperture and Nightography video improvements for low light. It pairs 50MP ultra-wide and telephoto modules plus periscope zoom supporting high-range optical and AI-assisted digital zoom. Expect 100x Space Zoom and new stabilization modes.
- S26 / S26+: Triple camera systems with 50MP main sensors, 12MP ultrawide, and telephoto for everyday shooting. All models benefit from Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features for prompt-based editing.
Performance, chips, and battery
- Chips: Samsung ships region-dependent silicon. The Ultra uses a customized high-end Snapdragon (8 Elite Gen 5 variant) with an improved NPU for AI workloads. Other SKUs may use Samsung’s in-house Exynos in some markets.
- Memory & storage: Options include 12GB and 16GB RAM with storage tiers up to 1TB on the Ultra.
- Batteries & charging: Typical battery sizes — S26 ≈ 4300mAh, S26+ ≈ 4900mAh, S26 Ultra ≈ 5000mAh. Fast wired charging (up to Samsung’s high-rate figure on Ultra) gives a rapid top-up in under 30 minutes.
Galaxy AI, privacy, and software
Samsung bundles One UI 8.5 on top of Android 16. The headline features:
- Galaxy AI tools: Natural-language Photo Assist, contextual replies, call-screening, and document summarisation powered by on-device models and cloud partners. Samsung pointed to collaborations with AI stacks (including Google Gemini and other partners) to expand capabilities.
- Privacy Display (Ultra): A first-in-class built-in privacy screen that narrows viewing angles to protect content in public places. The feature can dim or mask sensitive screens selectively for apps, notifications, and secure folders. This is a hardware-level mitigation for shoulder-surfing.
UAE pricing, pre-order, and availability
- Pre-orders opened: Feb 25, 2026. In-store sales begin from March 11, 2026, through Samsung UAE, carriers, and retailers.
- Suggested UAE prices (typical retail starting points):
- Galaxy S26 — from Dh3,599 (12+256GB).
- Galaxy S26+ — from Dh4,299.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra — from Dh5,099 (512GB base in many listings); top Ultra 16GB/1TB goes up to Dh7,099. Prices vary by model, retailer offers, and trade-in discounts.
Samsung UAE is running trade-in discounts, double-storage promotions, and reward points for launch buyers. Major UAE carriers and retailers will announce bundle pricing and EMI plans ahead of March 11. Check Samsung’s UAE buy pages and authorised dealers for exact launch deals.
