On the sidelines of Samsung’s pre-launch media event in Dubai in early July, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Journalists and industry observers gathered as Samsung prepared to lift the curtain on its latest foldable flagship.
Fadi Abu Shamat, Vice President and Head of Mobile Experience at Samsung Gulf Electronics, sat down for a focused discussion on the device that would soon redefine the upper end of the Galaxy Z series: the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
Abu Shamat highlighted three pillars that define the new model. First is the display experience. The 8-inch inner Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel now reaches higher resolution and peak brightness of 3,000 nits, while Samsung’s Flex Titanium technology has refined the crease to a point where, Abu Shamat noted, “many users will struggle to notice it in normal use.” The cover display has also grown more practical at 6.5 inches, making the phone feel complete even when closed. For professionals who live between email, documents and media, the dual-screen setup remains one of the most productive configurations available.
Second is the camera system. Samsung has finally given the Fold series a true Ultra-class imaging setup. A 200-megapixel main sensor sits alongside a significantly improved 50-megapixel ultrawide and a 3x optical telephoto. “We listened,” Abu Shamat explained. “Customers wanted the same creative flexibility they enjoy on the S Ultra, without compromise. The new ultrawide in particular brings sharper landscapes and genuine macro capability that simply wasn’t there before.”
Video capabilities have also advanced, including 8K recording and on-device cinematic tools that make the large inner screen a natural canvas for content creators.
The third pillar is endurance and performance. A new silicon-carbon 5,000mAh battery delivers a meaningful jump in capacity, paired with faster 45W wired charging. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and available with up to 16GB of RAM, the Fold8 Ultra is engineered for sustained multitasking — split-screen productivity, gaming, and AI-assisted workflows — without the thermal or battery anxiety that once accompanied early foldables.
Abu Shamat was particularly keen to discuss how these hardware advances serve the Gulf consumer. “In markets like Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, we see strong demand for devices that are both status symbols and genuine productivity tools,” he said. “People here travel frequently, manage businesses on the move, and expect their phone to handle everything from high-resolution photography to seamless AI assistance. The Fold8 Ultra is built for that lifestyle.”
He also touched on the broader Galaxy AI ecosystem. Features that once felt experimental — intelligent summarisation, real-time translation, advanced photo editing and agentic assistance — are now more deeply integrated and context-aware across the larger canvas of the foldable display. Privacy remains non-negotiable; sensitive processing continues to prioritise on-device intelligence where possible.
When asked about the decision to introduce an “Ultra” variant alongside a wider standard Fold8, Abu Shamat was clear. “Different users have different priorities. Some want the widest possible cover screen. Others want the absolute best camera, battery and display technology in the classic book-style form. The Ultra exists for the latter group — the ones who refuse to compromise.”
As the conversation wound down, Abu Shamat returned to a theme that has defined Samsung’s foldable journey: making the extraordinary feel ordinary. “The best technology disappears into daily life,” he said. “With the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, we believe we’ve taken another significant step toward that goal. It is thinner, brighter, more capable and more refined than anything we have offered before in this category.”
Bahrain Confidential is taking delivery of a new Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and will be posting honest reviews/ updates over the next few weeks on how it compares with other phones on the market.
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