MacBook Repair Warranty Explained - Dubai 2026
Up to 12 months, depending on the repair. Here's exactly which tier your repair falls in (and what isn't covered).
MacBook Repair Warranty Explained. Quick answer
We give a written warranty of up to 12 months, depending on the repair. Most hardware replacements carry the full 12 months; batteries and screens carry 3 months; keyboard replacements and complex board-level or liquid-damage work carry 15 days. In every tier the warranty covers the specific component we replaced and the workmanship around it - and it travels with the device, so if you sell the MacBook the buyer is covered for the remainder.
The warranty tiers
| Repair type | Warranty | Why this period |
|---|---|---|
| Trackpad, charging port, SSD/RAM upgrade, hinge, fan, speaker, Touch Bar | New hardware with low, predictable failure rates - we can stand behind it for a year. | 12 months |
| Battery replacement | Batteries are consumables; 3 months is long enough to catch any defective cell. | 3 months + 80% capacity guarantee |
| Screen replacement (MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPhone) | Covers panel defects - dead pixels, backlight, True Tone faults. New impact damage is a new event. | 3 months |
| Keyboard replacement | Long enough to surface any assembly or flex-cable issue from the swap. | 15 days |
| Logic board, GPU, liquid damage, data recovery | Board-level and corrosion work depends on the condition of the surrounding board, which we don't control. | 15 days |
| Software, macOS reinstall, virus removal, diagnostics | Software state changes the moment the machine is back in use. | 15 days |
| iCloud / network unlocks | Account-level services - nothing physical is installed. | No parts warranty |
What the warranty covers
- Part defect - if the component we installed fails on its own within its tier period, we replace it free.
- Workmanship - anything that became loose, mis-seated, or stopped working as a direct consequence of our repair (e.g. a connector we touched).
- Re-diagnosis - if the same symptom returns, we re-diagnose at no charge regardless of cause.
- Pickup & delivery for warranty service - free across Dubai, even if the original repair was walk-in.
What's NOT covered
- New physical damage - fresh drops, dents, cracked screens after delivery.
- New liquid damage - a coffee spill last week is a separate event.
- Unrelated failures - if we replaced the screen and three months later the SSD dies, that's a new repair.
- Software / macOS issues not caused by our hardware work.
- Tampering - if another shop opened the MacBook after us, warranty is void.
- Consumables - keycaps removed by user, lost screws after self-opening, etc.
How to claim warranty
- WhatsApp +971 55 741 3706 with your repair receipt number and a short description of the issue.
- We confirm the warranty status against our database within minutes.
- Drop the MacBook at Concord Tower or book free pickup.
- Re-diagnosis the same day. If covered, repaired and returned within 24-48 hours typically.
- You don't pay anything for covered work - including the new part.
Apple warranty vs our warranty
| Aspect | Apple 1-year warranty | Our repair warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 12 months from repair, tiered by repair type | 12 months from purchase |
| Scope | The part we replaced + our workmanship | Whole device - manufacturing defects only |
| Accidental damage | Not covered | Not covered (need AppleCare+) |
| Liquid damage | Not covered | Not covered (need AppleCare+) |
| Where to claim | Our workshop or free pickup | Apple-Authorised Service Provider only |
| Turnaround | Same-day or 24-48 hours | Often 5-10 business days |
AppleCare+ interaction with our repairs
Important: any third-party repair (including ours) typically voids AppleCare+ for the device. If your MacBook is under AppleCare+ and the issue is covered (battery < 80% health, manufacturing defect), use AppleCare+ first - it's already paid for. Come to us when AppleCare+ has expired, the issue isn't covered, or the deductible is higher than our price. Our customers most often arrive after AppleCare+ ends or after Apple has quoted a logic-board replacement at AED 6,000+ - see our repair vs AppleCare+ math.
Battery warranty (3 months + capacity guarantee)
Batteries are consumables - but a quality replacement battery should last well over a year. We provide a 3-monthwarranty on every battery we install, covering premature capacity loss (< 80% within 3 months), swelling, or failure to charge. Cycle count is logged at install via system_profiler SPPowerDataType for objective comparison at claim time.
Why the periods differ by repair type
A single flat number would either short-change you on hardware (where a year is easy to stand behind) or over-promise on board-level work (where the outcome depends on how far corrosion or a power fault has already spread through a board we didn't build). Tying the period to the repair type is the honest version: long cover where failure rates are low and measurable, shorter cover where the surrounding hardware - not our work - is the real risk. The full written terms are on our warranty page.
Warranty transferability
Yes - the warranty is on the device (matched by serial number), not the customer. If you sell the MacBook on Dubizzle or to a friend within the warranty period, the buyer gets the remainder. Just hand them the receipt. This is a real selling point when listing a refurbished MacBook - see our refurbished MacBook buying guide for how buyers view this.
Frequently asked questions
- We'll still look at it. Most shops would refuse, but we honour goodwill claims close to expiry - particularly if the failure mode is clearly a part defect (e.g. dead pixel column on a screen, sudden battery swell). Worst case, we offer the replacement at our cost price.
- Strongly preferred but not strictly required - we keep digital records by serial number for 5 years. Bring the device, we'll look it up. Receipt speeds the process.
- Board-level repair fixes the failed circuit, but the rest of the board has lived the same life - heat cycles, liquid exposure, power surges. We can guarantee our joint and the component we replaced; we can't guarantee a neighbouring chip won't fail next month. 15 days catches anything related to our work.
- No, because we are not an Apple-Authorised Service Provider - Apple doesn't recognise third-party repair history. The warranty is between you and us, backed by our own records and 21-year track record.
- Honest answer - that's a new repair, not a warranty claim. We'll quote at our normal price. We'll also offer a 10% repeat-customer discount on the new work.
- Yes - both. If we have to open the MacBook again to fix a covered issue, the labour is included. There is no surprise charge during a warranty claim.
- Apple's out-of-warranty repair carries a 90-day warranty on the part and labour. Ours runs up to 12 months on hardware repairs. Add price (we're typically 50-70% of Apple's quote), turnaround (same-day vs 5-10 days), and free pickup, and the comparison usually favours independent repair.
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About the author
Shafiq is a senior macbook technician at MacBook Repair Dubai, Dubai's longest-running Apple-only repair workshop (since 2004). Personally signs the QC checklist on every job leaving the bench.