A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
FAA regulations wouldn't apply for a flight from somewhere in Africa to DXB unless there's a very strange routing using either a USA carrier or a connection through the USA.
I suspect it would also be difficult to use FedEx or a similar service to return the phone.