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28 March 2024

Galaxy Note 7 latest: UAE withdraws 27,000 mobiles; Qantas grounds it

Samsung is recalling 27,000 Note 7 devices from across UAE. Pic: Reuters

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By Staff

Samsung has confirmed it will withdraw 27,000 Galaxy Note 7 devices from the UAE market.

The UAE’s Ministry of Economy confirmed this development with Arabic daily, Emarat Al Youm.

Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy further stated the Ministry was liaising with Samsung on recovering said 27,000 devices from customers and selling centers in the country.

At a press conference held at the Ministry office in Ras Al Khaimah yesterday, Dr Al Nuaimi stated there will be three stages to the pull out of the Galaxy Note 7 from the markets: replacing the device with another Samsung phone with the customer bearing the price difference; the customer can claim a full refund; or the customer can wait until the next shipment of Galaxy Note 7 devices are delivered.

He noted that Samsung had contacted with its sales centers in the UAE and agreed with them the need to communicate with customers who have already purchased the device and inform them of the company procedures.

He added selling centres such as Axiom has already contacted dealers.

Dr Al Nuaimi further confirmed the replacement Galaxy Note 7 devices will be available in the UAE markets in three weeks, in time for the Gitex Shopper in Dubai.

He added that the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) would examine a sample of the devices to ensure safety of use.

Al Nuaimi said, “All Samsung clients need to communicate with the consumer protection Office of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in case the staff in retail centre refused the replacement of the affected device or refusing to refund money.”

He added in such cases the Ministry will take necessary measures to ensure the rights of consumers.

Devices grounded

Meanwhile, Australian carrier Qantas told  customers on Thursday not to use or charge Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 during flights after faulty batteries in the new smartphone caused some handsets to explode.

Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, said last week it was suspending sales of its latest flagship mobile device and recalling 2.5 million units shipped globally following reports of exploding "phablets" that dealt a heavy blow to the firm's reputation.

"Following Samsung Australia's recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Personal Electronic Device (PED), we are requesting that passengers who own them do not switch on or charge them inflight," a Qantas spokesman said in a statement to AFP.

The request applies to domestic and international flights as well as Qantas' discount carrier Jetstar, the spokesman added.

Qantas' domestic competitor Virgin Australia was not immediately available for comment.

In 2014, Qantas and Virgin Australia allowed passengers to use mobile electronic devices in-flight with limited restrictions after a relaxation of the rules by the country's aviation authority.

Previous regulations banned their use during taxiing, take-off and landing due to fears they could interfere with the plane's navigation equipment.

Samsung's recall - the first for one of the South Korean electronics giant's top of the range phones - came a week before arch-rival Apple unveiled its iPhone 7 on Wednesday.

Samsung's mobile business chief Koh Dong-Jin had said the faulty rate amounted to 24 handsets per each million sold and that it would take about two weeks to prepare replacements.