Issues United Arab Emirates

Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of the United Arab Emirates. Every year, more than 2900 of its people arekilled by tobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 3000 children (10-14 years old) and 903000 adults (15+ years old) continueto use tobacco each day. Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic insulates the tobacco industry in the United ArabEmirates and ensures that tobacco's death toll will grow every year. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to othercommunities and resources to strengthen their efforts and create change.

Adult Smoking (15+ Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Male

14.35%Even though fewer men smoke onaverage in the United Arab Emirates thanon average in very high-HDI countries,there are still more than 868700 menwho smoke cigarettes each day, making itan ongoing and dire public health threat.

Female

1.89%Even though fewer women smoke in theUnited Arab Emirates than on average invery high-HDI countries, there are stillmore than 35500 women who smokecigarettes each day, making it an ongoingand dire public health threat.

Children Smoking (10-14 Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Boys

1.31%Even though fewer boys smoke in the UnitedArab Emirates than on average in very high-HDI countries, there are still more than2300 boys who smoke cigarettes each day,making it an ongoing and dire public healththreat.

Girls

0.61%Even though fewer girls smoke in the UnitedArab Emirates than on average in very high-HDI countries, there are still more than1000 girls who smoke cigarettes each day,making it sign of an ongoing and dire publichealth threat.

Deaths% caused by tobacco: 2016

Male

12.84%Even though fewer men die from tobaccoin the United Arab Emirates than onaverage in very high-HDI countries,tobacco still kills 52 men every week,necessitating action from policymakers.

Female

6.05%Even though fewer women die fromtobacco in the United Arab Emirates thanon average in very high-HDI countries,tobacco still kills 5 women every week,necessitating action from policymakers.

Societal Harms

The economic cost of smoking in the United Arab Emiratesamounts to 1044 million UAE dirhams. This includes directcosts related to healthcare expenditures and indirect costsrelated to lost productivity due to early mortality andmorbidity.

Smokeless Tobacco% using tobacco daily: 2013

n/a n/a

Industry

The combined revenues of the world's 6 largest tobaccocompanies in 2016 was more than USD 346 Billion, which isequal to 99% of the Gross National Income of the United ArabEmirates. The industry is a powerful force that does not fearthe actions of smaller nation-states because of their extensiveresources and global market power. Larger economies andnations have the opportunity to help the smaller allies facedown this threat.

Growing

There were less than 1000metric tons of tobaccoproduced in the United ArabEmirates in 2014. Tobaccogrowing is only a smallfraction of agriculture inUAE, with only 0.01% ofagricultural land devoted totobacco cultivation.

Production

Cigarette importsexceeded cigaretteexports in UAE in2016, which hurtthe country's tradebalance.

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Solutions United Arab Emirates

Current Policy in the UnitedArab EmiratesProtect from Smoke

All public places completely smoke-free isthe best practice

Smokefree

HealthCare Facilities Educational Facilities

Universities Government Facilities

Indoor Offices Restaurants

Pubs and Bars Public Transport

All Other Indoor PublicPlaces

Funds for SmokefreeEnforcement

Raise Taxes

WHO BenchmarkMinimum

70%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax

UAE

0%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax

Offer HelpNational quit line and both NRT and cessation-services cost-covered is the best practice

Quitting Resources National quit line, and both NRT and some cessation services cost-covered

National Quitline Yes

Warn About the Dangers to Tobacco Users on Product PackagingA plain, standardized pack with a large health warning is the best practice

Type of Warning Label Graphic

Percent of Pack Covered 50%

Plain Packaging No

Warn About the Dangers to the Whole Population in a Media Campaign

Ran a National Anti-Tobacco Campaign in 2014 or 2016 Yes

Appropriate Characteristics

Part Of A Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program No

Pre-Tested With The Target Audience No

Target Audience Research Was Conducted No

Aired On Television And/Or Radio Yes

Utilized Media Planning Yes

Earned Media/Public Relations Were Used To Promote The Campaign Yes

Process Evaluation Was Used To Assess Implementation Yes

Outcome Evaluation Was Used To Assess Effectiveness Yes

Enforce Bans on AdvertisingBan on all forms of direct and indirect advertising is the best practice

Number of DirectAd Bans

7/7possible bans

Number ofIndirect Ad Bans

9/10possible bans

Ad Ban CompliancePercent

n/a

Direct bans

• National TV and radio• International TV and radio• Local magazines andnewspapers• International magazinesand newspapers• Billboard and outdooradvertising• Advertising at point of sale• Advertising on internet

Indirect bans

• Free distribution in mail or through other means• Promotional discounts• Non-tobacco products identified with tobacco brand names• Brand name of non-tobacco products used for tobacco product• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco brands (product placement)• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco products• Complete ban on sponsorship• Any form of contribution (financial or other support) to any event,activity or individual• Ban on the publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support bythe tobacco industry of events, activities, individuals

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