Ministerial Resolution No. 237 of 2026 issued by Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi establishes a broad framework covering the import, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of all forms of tobacco, nicotine and related delivery systems. The rules, which draw on both national legislation and the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, ban unregistered products, nicotine pouches not approved as medicines and any items failing to meet technical specifications according to the resolution. Products marketed with cartoon characters, toy-like designs or packaging resembling sweets are likewise prohibited, as are those making unapproved health claims or using misleading descriptors such as less harmful or low tar. Manufacturers and importers must submit comprehensive data on ingredients, nicotine levels, additives and production details for approval before any activity can commence, the ministry directed.
The resolution prohibits all sales, delivery or provision of these products to persons under 21 years old, requiring retailers to verify age through civil identification or other approved methods. Licensed vendors must post prominent notices in Arabic and English stating the underage sales ban at all points of sale. Sales, display and distribution are furthermore forbidden in all educational institutions from kindergartens through universities as well as in healthcare facilities, government buildings, sports clubs, youth centers, cinemas and similar venues. The restrictions extend to grocery stores, mobile carts, kiosks, exhibitions, events and self-service displays, the document specified.
Online platforms represent a particular focus of the new controls, with the resolution banning sales, display or distribution of tobacco and nicotine items via websites, mobile applications, social media or any delivery services. Advertising and marketing, whether direct or indirect, are prohibited across all channels including traditional media, digital platforms, influencers, billboards and sponsorship of events. Free samples, promotional discounts and brand-linked sponsorship of sports, cultural or educational activities are also outlawed under the comprehensive measures. Media content depicting smoking, vaping or nicotine use, especially when accessible to young audiences, must be monitored with health warnings added where such scenes are deemed essential, the rules require.
Electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and similar devices that emit vapor or aerosol fall under the same public smoking bans already in place for conventional cigarettes, according to the resolution. This provision extends earlier smoke-free policies that originated with the 1995 Anti-Smoking Law and were reinforced through subsequent decrees, Tobacco Control Laws records show. Kuwait ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006, providing the international basis for many of these updated controls. The convention has guided national policies aimed at reducing both supply and demand for tobacco products across member states.
Implementation will be overseen by the Ministry of Health working in coordination with the Environment Public Authority, environmental police, customs officials and other relevant agencies. These bodies hold authority to prevent entry of non-compliant products, order their withdrawal from the market and remove illegal online content or advertisements. Penalties for any violations will follow those outlined in existing Kuwaiti laws and ministerial decisions, the resolution confirmed. The entire package of measures is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2027, superseding any conflicting earlier provisions.
Data from the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction indicate that 24.5 percent of adults in Kuwait were current smokers as of 2024, with the figure reaching 37.3 percent among men and just 2.4 percent among women. The same source associates tobacco smoking with approximately 1,549 deaths per year in the country. Earlier studies and reports from the Tobacco Atlas have placed adult prevalence lower at around 11 percent but consistently highlight elevated risks among males and the substantial health burden. The latest resolution builds upon longstanding tobacco control efforts that have included mass media campaigns and advertising restrictions but now specifically target digital channels and novel nicotine products that have gained popularity in recent years.
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