Dubai: Apple CEO Tim Cook made a surprise visit to the Apple store at the Mall of the Emirates on Saturday afternoon where he met with customers and employees.

Before flying into the UAE, Apple chief executive Tim Cook met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, launching a new version of the Indian leader’s eponymous app on a visit aimed at pushing the technology giant’s expansion plans.

India is a compelling market for the technology giant, with nearly a billion Indians — among a population of 1.2 billion — still not online, especially as sales of the iPhone slow in more saturated markets.

Yet Apple products are too expensive for the vast majority of Indians, with taxes taking the cost of a basic iPhone to almost $600 (Dh2,200).

On Thursday, Apple Inc. yesterday announced the opening of its state-of-the-art development centre in southern the Indian city Hyderabad, India, which will focus on the development of maps for the company’s products, including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

