All defective Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices removed from UAE shelves

Less than two weeks away from Gitex Shopper, the UAE has been cleared of all defective Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, the Ministry of Economy has confirmed.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, all defective devices of the popular smartphone brand have been withdrawn from retail outlets, quoting Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy (MoE).

Tech giant Samsung has recalled millions of new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones worldwide after reports of the devices catching fire while charging.

Samsung's Note 7s have been pulled from shelves in 10 countries, including the UAE, South Korea and the US, just two weeks after the product's launch.

Working in cooperation with Samsung, Dr Al Nuaimi further stated the new shipment of devices will be subjected to ‘full inspections’ before being releasing on the market to ensure they are free from any manufacturing defects.

He added the new devices would be scanned by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), along with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC).

He further pointed to the existence of an agreement between the Ministry and stakeholders in this regard, to protect consumers from exposure to any damage.

He added that the new phones, which are free of defects, are expected to arrive before the end of the month, according to the agreement between the Ministry and Samsung.

Meanwhile, he confirmed that a number of consumers have already received refunds from retail houses.

He added that Samsung had earlier submitted three alternatives in agreement with the Ministry of Economy, with a fourth alternative activated by agreement between the two sides whereby a consumer would receive a new device from Samsung for temporary use until the arrival of the new devices.

The other alternatives included replacing the defective device with a new device of the same quality after reaching the UAE market before the end of September.

A second option included purchasing a second Samsung device, whereby the consumer bears the price difference if it was more expensive while the outlets would bear the price difference if the phone was cheaper.

He said the third option was receiving a full refund.

Dr Al Nuaimi called on consumers waning to replace their phones to retain it as a guarantee of their rights but refrain from using it at all for the existence of specific risks to security and safety.

Several airlines around the globe have already banned Galaxy Note 7 phones to be switched on or placed on charge on flights.

Samsung, meanwhile, was sued on Friday by a Florida man who said he suffered severe burns after his Galaxy Note 7 smartphone exploded in his front pants pocket.

The lawsuit by Jonathan Strobel may be the first in the US by a Samsung phone user against the South Korean company over a battery defect linked to the Note 7.

It was filed one day after Samsung recalled about one million Note 7s sold in the US.

Samsung has received 92 reports of batteries overheating in the US, including 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, US safety regulators said.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.