Anti-Smoking Law

This law aims to combat smoking by taking all necessary measures at the state, community, and individual levels to reduce the smoking habit in all its forms among individuals at different stages of life.

Smoking refers to the consumption of tobacco and its derivatives, including cigarettes, cigars, jurak, tumbak, maassel, and any product containing tobacco. This includes consumption through cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, hookahs, chewing, storing, or any other method.

The cultivation or manufacture of tobacco and its derivatives is prohibited in the Kingdom.

The taxes and duties on tobacco and its derivatives shall be increased by a Council of Ministers decision.

Tobacco products and their derivatives must display warning labels and explanatory information as specified in the implementing regulations.

Tobacco and its derivatives shall not be cleared for final importation unless samples have been analyzed in laboratories designated in the implementing regulations to ensure compliance with standards set by the competent authority in coordination with the Ministry of Health.

Smoking is prohibited in the following places: 1. Mosques and surrounding areas. 2. Ministries, government entities, public institutions, and their branches. 3. Educational, health, sports, cultural, social, and charitable institutions. 4. Workplaces in companies, institutions, factories, banks, and similar establishments. 5. Public transportation (land, air, and sea) as specified in the implementing regulations. 6. Food manufacturing, processing, packaging, and preparation facilities. 7. Oil production, distribution, refining sites, fuel and gas stations. 8. Warehouses, elevators, and restrooms. Other public places not explicitly mentioned above. If designated smoking areas exist within such places, they must be isolated and limited, and persons under (18) eighteen years of age shall not be allowed entry. The implementing regulations shall specify criteria for enforcing this provision.

To limit tobacco sales, the following rules apply: 1. Tobacco may only be sold in sealed packages containing the quantity specified in the implementing regulations. 2. Tobacco may not be sold through vending machines. 3. Tobacco may not be sold on public transportation. 4. Tobacco may not be sold to persons under (18) eighteen years of age. 5. Tobacco-related patents shall not be registered. 6. Tobacco products may not be discounted, offered as free samples, or given as gifts. 7. Importing, selling, or distributing any products that advertise tobacco is prohibited. 8. A warning sign about the dangers of smoking must be displayed at points of sale.

It is prohibited to import or sell children’s toys or candy designed to resemble cigarettes or any smoking tools. Article 10: 1. Advertising and promotion of tobacco and its derivatives are strictly prohibited through any Saudi media or advertising platform. 2. Scenes featuring tobacco consumption shall be removed from movies, TV series, programs, and publications shown in Saudi Arabia, along with any content encouraging smoking.

Government entities responsible for Islamic affairs, education, media, sports, health, and social affairs shall continuously conduct anti-smoking awareness programs using effective and innovative methods, encouraging private sector participation.

The responsibility for monitoring violations and imposing fines shall rest with Government ministries, entities, public institutions, Educational, health, sports, cultural, social, and charitable institutions, and Private sector companies and establishments.

Any person violating Article (13) of this law shall be subject to a fine of (20.000) twenty thousand riyals, with the violation removed at their own expense.

Any person who smokes in violation of Article (7) shall be subject to a fine of (200) two hundred riyals.

Unless a specific penalty is provided, any violation of this law shall result in a fine not exceeding (5000) five thousand riyals. In case of repeat offenses, the penalty shall be doubled.

Anyone penalized under this law may file an appeal before the competent authority within the statutory period. Article 17: The penalties stipulated in this law shall not affect the enforcement of stricter penalties prescribed by other laws.

All fines collected under this law shall be allocated to Anti-smoking awareness efforts, Supporting charitable organizations combating smoking nationwide. A special bank account shall be created for this purpose, and disbursements shall be made according to instructions issued by the Minister of Health.

The Minister of Health shall issue the implementing regulations for this law in coordination with the relevant authorities within (6) six months from the date of publication.

This law shall take effect (1) one year after its publication in the Official Gazette.