E-cigarettes in Saudi Arabia

Global business and regulatory news and updates from the vape industry

17th June 2024

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30th May 2022

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31st January 2022

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Daily regulatory tracking of the e-cigarette sector. It includes weekly podcasts and monthly compilations

29th August 2024: Saudi Arabia: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has proposed amendments to decree 3839 (14/12/1438H) on the executive regulations of the value-added tax (VAT). Among them is a proposal that tobacco products, derivatives and substitutes are not considered goods eligible for tax refunds under any circumstance. The proposal will be under consideration until 17th September. E-cigarettes are subject to a 100% excise tax, a customs duty of 100%, and 15% VAT.
30th January 2024: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Health Council, a Ministry of Health-affiliated institution, has issued a warning on social media against using tobacco products due to nicotine negatively affecting adolescent brain development.
14th August 2023: Saudi Arabia: On 11th August, the Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing passed Decision No. 4400984351/2023 amending the regulation on Tobacco Licence Fees. The decision levies an additional tax for selling or serving tobacco products in hospitality premises at a rate of 100% of the retail selling price (for each unit) provided that the value of the fee is not less than SAR25 ($6.66) per unit. Each month, the premises must submit an account of its sales to its municipality, including the amount of the 100% fee in a separate item, and pay the fee within 15 days.
29th May 2023: Saudi Arabia: The country's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the establishment of a nicotine products company called Badeal. The company will support the country's Tobacco Endgame 2030 strategy, which aims to halve the current smoking rates, by developing and distributing tobacco-free nicotine products.
3rd May 2023: Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Housing has introduced an initial draft through the public consultation platform on the requirements for offering tobacco and e-cigarettes on hospitality premises. The proposal prohibits signs advertising the use of tobacco and requires any premises selling tobacco to post a price list. It also requires health warning signs and a warning against providing tobacco to minors. The proposal will be under consideration until 10th May.
20th February 2023: Saudi Arabia: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority tweeted on Saturday that the import of disposable e-cigarettes for personal use is limited to 25 disposables for each entry, with a maximum of 125 disposables every three months per person.
13th December 2022: Gulf Cooperation Council: The Gulf Health Council has launched a week-long online campaign under the slogan “#companionship_without_vaping” to combat the use of e-cigarettes, particularly by young people, press reports.
9th December 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Health Council tweeted against the use of e-cigarettes, stating that they negatively affect brain development in children as well as brain activity in adults.
28th November 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Riyadh Health Cluster, a Ministry of Health-affiliated institution, has tweeted against the use of e-cigarettes, saying that e-liquid may lead to nicotine poisoning, and explained that symptoms resulting from nicotine poisoning include vomiting, sweating, dizziness, breathing difficulty, and palpitations.
2nd November 2022: Saudi Arabia: The National Committee for Tobacco Control plans to increase the excise tax on all tobacco products to 150% in an attempt to limit the number of tobacco users, press reports. The tobacco excise tax applies also to e-cigarettes.
5th October 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Shura Council has amended the Anti-Smoking Law, raising the purchasing and distribution age for all tobacco products from 18 to 21, press reports. The amendments also stipulate that designated areas for tobacco use and vaping will also be reserved to those aged 21 and above.
19th September 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has issued the decision No. 570/2022 approving the amendments to the executive by-law on excise tax. According to the decision, importers and producers of excise goods will now be obliged to disclose the tax to the authority within a period of 15 days from the date of the tax due. In addition, a warehouse will be eligible for licensing as a tax warehouse if it acquires an average of 500,000 vaping devices a year as opposed to the current 1m devices, and 125,000 l of e-liquid as opposed to 500,000 l.

Detailed full-length reports including data and analysis of numerous vaping markets around the world

31st July 2024

Saudi Arabia: market snapshot, July 2024

3rd January 2023

The UAE and Saudi Arabia: a comparison of the e-cigarette market, January 2023

20th October 2021

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Regulatory reports

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10th January 2024

Saudi Arabia: e-cigarette regulation, January 2024

2nd September 2022

Saudi Arabia: new retail and advertising restrictions – Q&A, September 2022

5th August 2022

Saudi Arabia: e-cigarette regulation, August 2022

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17th July 2024

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7th August 2024

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12th August 2024

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24th November 2022

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