E-cigarette vaping in United Arab Emirates
Data sourced:
more than 5 years ago.
Page updated:
2025-11-05
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), e-cigarettes are allowed and regulated. The sale of vaping devices and nicotine is legal, and purchasing without a prescription is permitted. Vaping products are marketed and can be bought both online and in-person, according to some online sources.
The minimum age restriction on sales is 18 years, and there are some restrictions on use in public places. So, it is advised not to vape in areas such as educational centers and health facilities. Travelers should also check with airlines before bringing vaping products for personal use.
In terms of prevalence, the latest available data from 2017 indicate that there were approximately 48,200 vapers in the UAE. The vaping prevalence among adults was 0.6%, with a prevalence of 0.4% among females and 0.8% among males.
Prevalence
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2017 or earlier
|
5% |
|
|
2017
|
0.6% |
1A
|
|
2018
|
0.6% |
1B
|
References:
- National Health Survey (STEPS), 2017-18; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
- National Health Survey (STEPS) 2018 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
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2017
|
0.4% |
1A
|
|
2018
|
0.4% |
1B
|
References:
- National Health Survey (STEPS), 2017-18; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
- National Health Survey (STEPS) 2018 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
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2017
|
0.8% |
1A
|
|
2018
|
0.8% |
1B
|
References:
- National Health Survey (STEPS), 2017-18; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
- National Health Survey (STEPS) 2018 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
Regulation
Availability
Regulations and restrictions
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.
