En los Emiratos Árabes Unidos (EAU), los cigarrillos electrónicos están permitidos y regulados. La venta de dispositivos de vapeo y nicotina es legal, y se puede adquirir sin necesidad de receta. Los productos de vapeo se comercializan y pueden comprarse tanto en línea como de manera presencial, según algunas fuentes en línea. La edad mínima para la venta es de 18 años y existen algunas restricciones para el uso en lugares públicos; por lo tanto, se recomienda no vapear en espacios como centros educativos y establecimientos de salud. Los viajeros también deben consultar con las aerolíneas antes de transportar productos de vapeo para uso personal. En cuanto a la prevalencia, los datos más recientes disponibles, correspondientes a 2017, señalan que había aproximadamente 48,200 personas usuarias de vapeo en los EAU. La prevalencia del vapeo entre adultos era del 0.6%, con un 0.4% entre las mujeres y un 0.8% entre los hombres.
Prevalencia
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 48,206 | 1A |
| 2018 | 48,894 | 1B |
- 1. National Health Survey (STEPS), 2017-18; National, ages 18-69. 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/
- 1. 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.6% | 2A |
| 2018 | 0.6% | 2B |
- 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
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.4% | 2A |
| 2018 | 0.4% | 2B |
- 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
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.8% | 2A |
| 2018 | 0.8% | 2B |
- 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
- 1. 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 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/
- 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
Regulación
- 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/
Publicaciones
Prevalence of Current Smoking Cigarettes and Current Vaping
- Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
Overall, as a percentage of the total adult population, current use of vaping devices in different countries ranges between 1% and 7%. As shown by this graphic there are eight countries where the prevalence of vaping is 3% or more including the UK, United Arab Emirates (UAE), US, France, Iceland, Belgium, the Russian Federation and Malaysia. The average prevalence of current vaping product use is 1.6 % of the adult population in the EU, as found in the EU Eurobarometer survey. A further 13% “used to use them, but no longer do so” or “have tried them once or twice”. 85.6% “have never tried or used them”. Levels of sometime vaping experience range up to 27% of the adult population in Greece, and 20% or above in Estonia, Czech Republic, France, Cyprus, Latvia and Austria. Clearly, there are many smokers who are interested in these products. But there is also a large gap between those who have shown enough interest to have tried vaping at some time, and those who have gone on to currently vape.
See also p.50 of the report: Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
