SHARE

E-cigarette vaping in Saudi Arabia

Profile
Saudi Arabia Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Saudi Arabia Background
Profile
Saudi Arabia Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-09-01

E-cigarettes are allowed in Saudi Arabia and are regulated under specific guidelines. Under these regulations, the import, sale, and online purchase of vaping devices and nicotine are legal. However, health warning on packaging of e-cigarettes are required, restrictions exist on their flavours, and the maximum allowable nicotine concentration is 20mg/ml. There are some legal restrictions on vaping in public places. In terms of prevalence, the latest available data indicate that there were approximately 202,313 current vapers in Saudi Arabia in 2019. In the same year, the adult current vaping prevalence was 0.8%, with a prevalence of 0.4% among females. These data show the adoption of tobacco harm reduction strategies in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 202,313 1A
2019 202,313 1B
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2019 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 0.8% 2A
2019 0.8% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2019 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 0.4% 2A
2019 0.4% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2019 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 1.1% 2A
2019 1.1% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2019 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2019; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.

Product promotion

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Saudi Arabia. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/saudi-arabia/e-cigarettes. Accessed: 1 September 2026.
Comments:
  1. Advertising of e-cigarettes are not banned.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Banned 1A
2020 Allowed 1B
2025 Allowed 1C
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Saudi Arabia Details | Tobacco Control Laws. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/saudi-arabia/summary.
  3. Global Tobacco Control. January, 2025. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes; Anti smoking global. January, 2025. https://antismoking.global/world-map; Tobacco control laws. January, 2025. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation
Yes
2
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. January, 2025. https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes; Anti smoking global. January, 2025. https://antismoking.global/world-map; Tobacco control laws. January, 2025. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation
  2. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Saudi Arabia. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/saudi-arabia/e-cigarettes. Accessed: 1 September 2026.
  2. Saudi Arabia Details | Tobacco Control Laws. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/saudi-arabia/summary.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Saudi Arabia. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/saudi-arabia/e-cigarettes. Accessed: 1 September 2026.
Comments:
  1. Maximum allowable nicotine concentration is 20mg/ml.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.