PS4 demand outstripping supply in UAE

Retailers in the United Arab Emirates are warning that demand for the recently released PlayStation 4 console is well outstripping supply.

Sony's latest machine went on sale in parts of the Middle East today, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

So far fans have been flocking to stores to get their hands on the hardware but there will be plenty that are left disappointed.

"There will probably be a lot of people who won't get a PlayStation in time for Christmas," Ashish Panjabi of retailer Jacky's told Al Arabiya News.

That's due to Sony releasing more consoles in American and European markets.

"We're competing with the United States during Christmas and in Europe during Christmas, and I think those markets probably get precedence in this time," he claimed.

To ease frustration, most retailers are taking pre-orders for the PS4 before selling the rest of their stock on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We have over 1,000 pre-bookings, so all of those customers are assured of their products, and we have a few hundred more after that, on a first-come-first-serve basis," said Jumbo Electronics head of retail Nadeem Khanzadeh. 

The PS4 is now available in 48 countries around the world, with Sony announcing that as of 3 December the console had shifted 2.1 million units.