The sale of all electronic smoking products, including vaping devices, is currently banned in the UAE under UAE Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on tobacco control.
Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) has issued new rules under a mandatory standard number "UAE.S 5030” making the sale of electronic cigarettes and related products, such as electronic pipes, vaping devices and liquid refills, legal from the middle of April.
The new law aims to prevent the spread of electronic smoking products in the UAE market without any regulation.
Under the new law, manufacturers of electronic nicotine products are required to meet all specifications, including health warnings, in order to obtain the certificate to sell in the UAE market.
His Excellency Abdullah Al Meini, Director General of the ESMA said, “ We have issued this standard to stop unregulated circulation of these products without restrictions or controls”
His Excellency Abdullah Al Meini also said that many users have a "lack of knowledge of the ingredients used" and by regulating sales it will compel retailers to carry warnings.
ESMA has created these new standards in co-operation with existing guidelines from the World Health Organisation, European legislation and the British Standard.