Smoking rates are falling worldwide but more young people are taking up the habit despite high regional taxes, according to the latest global report on tobacco trends.
Data from the World Tobacco Atlas showed the number of people smoking has declined by more than a third in Saudi Arabia, and almost a quarter in Qatar.
In the UAE, two years after a 100 per cent excise tax on cigarettes was introduced in 2017, Abu Dhabi’s consumption rates fell significantly, with tobacco trade reducing from Dh410 million to Dh62.4 million.
The latest figures for Saudi Arabia show 37 per cent fewer people were smoking in 2020, compared to 2014 when the last survey was completed.
While heavy taxation in the country drafted in in 2017 pushed some towards vaping, others relied on cheaper, imported cigarettes.
“It's been a tough time for smokers considering more than 10 million people smoke in the country," says Nael Ali, a customer at a store in Jeddah.
"During the Covid-19 lockdown I was in panic mode, and no stores had stock of cigarettes.
“I drove outside the city to look for alternatives but it wasn't possible, so I switched to vape because it's cheaper.”
Saudi Arabia taxed smokers out of the habit with $7 packs
Saudi Arabia aims to slash tobacco consumption to just 5 per cent by 2030, while authorities banned smoking in public places such as airports, restaurants, educational institutes and public transport.
A new policy introduced in 2017 increased the price of a 20-cigarette pack of the most popular brand to 27.50 Saudi Riyals ($7.33) with the tax portion being 68.09 per cent, within the benchmark recommended by the World Bank to help curb smoking.
Annual importation of cigarettes declined by 27.41 per cent from 2013 to 2019 after the imposition of value-based and value-added taxes in 2017 and 2018, respectively, while the price of a pack of cigarettes increased by 115.1 per cent from 2016 to 2018.
"During the lockdown was when things really went out of hand,” said Khalil Ahmed, a store manager in Jeddah.
“I had people calling me to reserve a large number of boxes for them and coming to the shop everyday in hopes of getting access to cigarettes and storing them for the future as we didn't know how long it would take.
”Since the prices went up we have tried many ways to get access to packs from outside for instance but you end up paying at customs so it's the same thing.”
Priced out of lighting up
Another shop owner in Jeddah, Bashir Khan from Pakistan, said customers were buying less often due to higher prices.
"Generally people cannot afford to buy packs of cigarettes like before,” he said.
“Now my regular customers buy less packs and less frequently. The whole market is like this.”
Worldwide, the number of smokers has fallen from 22.7 per cent of the population in 2007 to 19.6 per cent in 2019, around 1.13 billion people.
Tobacco use surges among teens
However, in 63 of 135 nations surveyed, tobacco use increased in children aged 13-15, with more than 50 million adolescents smoking cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.
In several of these countries, including Haiti and Mauritania, tobacco use among adolescent girls is now more common than among adult women.
Since 2009, the number of smokers has increased over a decade in four Middle East nations.
The percentage of Egypt's population that smokes had increased from 37 per cent to 42 per cent, in Jordan it went up from 46 per cent to 51 per cent, in Iraq it went up from 26 per cent to 32 per cent, and in Oman numbers almost doubled from 7 per cent to 13 per cent.
Meanwhile, a 2019 UAE National Health Survey showed the number of adult smokers had fallen 18 per cent since 2010.
According to the survey, the prevalence of tobacco use among both sexes accounted for 9.1 per cent of the population — 15.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent for men and women, respectively.
Public awareness remains key
Dr Sheena Tan Go, a general practitioner at NMC Golden Sands Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, said the latest tobacco atlas was a reminder that more public education was required.
“We are finally reaping the benefit with the fall of smoking prevalence globally, but our mission is not yet over,” she said.
“There are still a lot of things to be done to lower the morbidity and mortality rates from cigarette smoking.
“We have to continue to work together to reach out and get the message across to where cases are increasing, such as in adolescents, under-developed and developing countries.
“Regardless of the time it takes to turn-around, every small step towards reducing the prevalence of smoking can impact individuals, families, and communities and can contribute to a better quality of life in the long-run.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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RESULTS
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MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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Persuasion
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Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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