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United Arab Emirates

Tobacco Control Policies

The United Arab Emirates became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 5, 2006.

Smoke Free Places: The law prohibits smoking in certain enclosed public spaces and public transport.  Some of these places and means of transport may have designated smoking areas, but healthcare, educational, and sports facilities and places of worship shall not have smoking areas.  With respect to outdoor places, areas adjacent to educational, health, and sports facilities; places of worship; and industrial facilities are smoke free. 

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: Tobacco advertising is prohibited in all print and electronic media, including at the point-of-sale. Free and discounted tobacco products also are prohibited, but some point of sale product display and tobacco product brand stretching are allowed.  There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Health warnings are pictorial and text and cover no less than 50 percent of the bottom of tobacco product packaging’s main display areas (e.g., front and back).  The government rotates the warnings “as required by the public interest.”  Misleading terms such as “light” and “low tar” are prohibited on tobacco packaging, but other misleading packaging (e.g., colors, numbers, and symbols) is not prohibited.

Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in the United Arab Emirates are well below these recommendations.    

SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN
Health-care facilities Yes
Private offices No
Primary and secondary schools Yes
Public transport Uncertain
Universities Yes
Restaurants No
Governmental facilities No
Bars and Pubs No
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions? Yes
BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP
Domestic TV and radio Yes
Promotional discounts Yes
Domestic magazines and newspapers Yes
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names Yes
Outdoor advertising Yes
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names Yes
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters) Yes
Paid placement in media Yes
Retail product display No
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility Yes
Internet advertising Yes
Publicity of sponsorships Yes
Free distribution Yes
HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Text warnings describe health impacts Yes
Number of published warnings at any given time 6
Warnings include a picture or graphic Yes
Warnings required to rotate Uncertain
% of principal display areas covered (front and back) 50%
Warnings are written in the principal language(s) Yes
Front 50%
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling Yes
Back 50%
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products Yes
TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE
PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE)
In country currency 21.00 AED
Total taxes 73%
In US dollars 5.72 USD
Total excise 49%

Sources:

SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org

Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021. Available at: www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/

Last updated: July 19, 2021