E-cigarettes banned in closed spaces, office premises in UAE

The health ministry has confirmed that smoking e-cigarettes is banned inside offices and closed spaces around the United Arab Emirates. The usage of e-cigarettes is subject to federal law on tobacco control. 

As per the website of the UAE government, the federal law also prohibits and penalises:

• Smoking in private cars when a child under 12 is present
• Automatic selling equipment and devices for tobacco distribution inside the country
• The sale of tobacco to those who are under 18
• Tobacco advertisement
• Smoking in houses of worship, academic institutions (such as universities and schools), health as well as sports facilities

This has come as the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has stressed the dangers of taking tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The message was authorised as the ministry followed the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ that is observed in the world on May 31. 

The MoHAP stated that it has partnered up with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to jam websites that promote electronic tobacco products. 

A report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021 stated that consumption of e-cigarettes is on the increase, and these products have been marketed to adolescents and children by several tobacco companies, using many appealing flavours and misleading claims. The WHO stated that children who use these products are three times more likely to use tobacco products in the future. 

UAE doctors had stated that e-cigarettes would form a whole new generation of smokers. 

On the other hand, noting the National Health Survey, the ministry said that the majority of adult tobacco smoking has decreased from 11.1% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2018. 

The latest edition of the Tobacco Atlas indicates that the UAE has the lowest consumption rates of cigarettes. A graphic shared in the report illustrates that an adult smoker consumes around 438 cigarettes in a year.