Samsung registered a 40 per cent increase in orders for its newly launched Galaxy Note20 series phones in the Gulf region, significantly higher than the number of orders it received for the Note10 series, according to a senior company official.
Orders for the latest offering from Samsung were even higher in the UAE, 52 per cent more than the Note10 series, Osman Albora, senior director – mobile division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, told The National.
“The Note20 series facilitates work and play. It brings the capabilities of a PC as well as a phone in the hands of consumers,” Mr Albora said, without disclosing the number of the orders.
The South Korean consumer electronics giant launched two 5G-enabled models – the Note20 and the Note20 Ultra – in Dubai on Wednesday, starting their region-wide sale. The company started taking advance orders for the devices on August 5, when they were launched globally.
Despite a tough market for consumer electronics, Samsung is very “confident and has high expectations from the new phones”, said Mr Albora.
The pandemic has changed consumers preferences and “people have started using smartphones much more [than in the past]," Mr Albora said.
More consumers are opting for 5G-enabled variants, as their orders constitute almost 80 per cent of total in the region.
"Staying connected has never been more important, as we have been propelled into the new normal,” he said. “We see 5G as one of the future enablers."
The company had launched its 5G-enabled phones with the Note10 series in August last year and since then it has introduced many variants to the market. Sales data show the company is on the right track and is aligned with what its customers want, he added.
With a 17.52-centimetre curved display, the Note20 Ultra has three cameras on the back. Its starting price in the UAE is Dh4,499.
The Note20 models have a smaller flat display at 17.01cm and is Dh3,549 in the Emirates.
The new phones also have larger storage capacity – 8GB to 12GB RAM and 128GB to 512GB internal storage space.
“We have a very positive outlook for [the] future … we are confident that current as well as future launches will propel our momentum further and help to increase our market share significantly in the region,” said Mr Albora.
“We held a 38.4 per cent market share in the UAE in the first half of this year. In the premium segment [priced $600 or above], we hold 33 per cent market share - almost 6 per cent more than the last year,” he said, citing, data from German researcher GFK's UAE panel market report.
Mr Albora, declined to share the launch date of the company’s new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold2, in the region.
“We will announce it soon, sometime in September ... we believe in [the] foldable category and are very committed to it,” he said.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
