Countries › Asia › United Arab Emirates
Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in the United Arab Emirates?
Tobacco-free nicotine pouches became legal to sell in the UAE on 29 July 2025 under a Cabinet resolution setting technical standards: only licensed retailers and pharmacies may sell them, buyers must be 18 or over, packaging must carry Arabic labelling, and GSTHR reports a cap of 16.6 mg nicotine per pouch. Tobacco snus is treated differently: GSTHR records that its import and sale are prohibited, and UAE tobacco law (Federal Law No. 15 of 2009) bans sale of any tobacco product to under-18s. Excise of 100% applies to tobacco products; whether pouches are excise goods was not confirmed.
Western Asia
United Arab Emirates at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Legal with restrictions | Banned |
| Possession and use | Legal | Unclear |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Unclear | Not allowed |
| Regulated | as a nicotine product (own category) | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | 16.6 mg per pouch | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Unclear | Unclear |
| Excise tax | Unclear | 100% of the excise price on tobacco and tobacco products (GCC tariff Schedule 24) |
| Legal basis | UAE Cabinet resolution on technical standards for tobacco-free nicotine pouches (approved June 2025, effective 29 July 2025); Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control (age 18) | Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control and its executive regulation (Cabinet Resolution No. 24 of 2013); product standards administered by MoIAT |
| In force since | 29 July 2025 | – |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in the United Arab Emirates
Legal since Jul 2025, 18+, licensed sellers.
Khaleej Times (17 June 2025) reports the Cabinet approved tobacco-free nicotine pouches as a smoking alternative with sale legal from 29 July 2025, restricted to licensed retailers and pharmacies, prohibited to under-18s, with UAE-specific packaging and Arabic labelling. The 16.6 mg per pouch nicotine limit and permission for online purchase come from the GSTHR country profile only and were not verified against the published standard; treat as provisional. Before July 2025 pouches were sold informally without an approved standard.
Tax: UAE excise is 100% on tobacco and tobacco products and on e-liquids (Cabinet Decision 197 of 2025; excise price rules updated by Cabinet Decision 137 of 2026 effective 1 September 2026). Neither the FTA excise-goods list nor Decision 137/2026 names tobacco-free nicotine pouches; treatment not confirmed.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, UAE Government portal u.ae
Tobacco snus in the United Arab Emirates
Import and sale prohibited (secondary source).
GSTHR states the UAE 'enforces restrictive regulations on snus, prohibiting its import and sale'. Tobacco Control Laws notes 'some restrictions at the sub-national level on the sale of certain types of smokeless tobacco'. No federal legal text naming snus was retrieved (uaelegislation.gov.ae blocked automated access), so the ban rests on secondary sources. Chewing tobacco and snuff exist in the GCC tariff as excise goods, which suggests some smokeless products are importable commercially under standards; treat snus specifically as prohibited until a primary source is found.
Tax: Federal Decree-Law No. 7 of 2017 on Excise Tax; Cabinet Decision 197 of 2025.
Sources: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, UAE Government portal u.ae, Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into the United Arab Emirates
| For personal use | Allowed with limits |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
No official customs page with the traveller tobacco allowance could be retrieved (Dubai Customs pages returned 404 or no content). Nicotine pouches are a legal product since July 2025 and a personal supply should be unproblematic. Snus is reported by GSTHR as prohibited to import; do not carry it. Verify with Dubai Customs (800 1886) before travelling with large quantities.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to the United Arab Emirates?
Buying snus and pouches in the United Arab Emirates
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
Pending and proposed changes
- Cabinet Decision No. 137 of 2026 changes the minimum excise price mechanism for tobacco products and e-liquids from 1 September 2026; it does not name nicotine pouches. Expected: 2026-09-01. Status: adopted not in force.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in the UAE?
Yes, since 29 July 2025. A Cabinet resolution set technical standards for tobacco-free nicotine pouches; they may be sold only by licensed retailers and pharmacies to buyers aged 18 or over, with Arabic labelling.
Is snus legal in the UAE?
Tobacco snus is reported as prohibited to import and sell in the UAE (GSTHR). No primary legal text was retrieved, so treat this as a ban unless a licensed seller can show approval.
Can I bring nicotine pouches into Dubai?
Pouches are a legal product in the UAE since July 2025, so a personal supply should be acceptable, but no official customs allowance for them was found. Snus should not be brought in.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in the UAE?
18. Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 prohibits selling tobacco products to under-18s and the 2025 pouch rules apply the same limit.
What is the nicotine limit for pouches in the UAE?
GSTHR reports a maximum of 16.6 mg nicotine per pouch under the UAE standard. This figure was not verified against the standard text.
Nearby in the atlas
- Afghanistan – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus legal
- Armenia – pouches legal, snus no specific rule found
- Azerbaijan – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus no specific rule found
- Bahrain – pouches banned, snus banned
- Bangladesh – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Bhutan – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Brunei – pouches no specific rule found, snus banned
- Cambodia – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- China – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal with restrictions
- Georgia – pouches legal, snus legal
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- UAE approves tobacco-free nicotine pouches to help smokers quit cigarettes – Khaleej Times (News, 17 June 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Tobacco-free nicotine pouches will be legally available for purchase in the UAE starting July 29”
- GSTHR country profile: United Arab Emirates – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enforces restrictive regulations on snus, prohibiting its import and sale.”
- Tobacco provisions (Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 regarding Tobacco Control) – UAE Government portal u.ae (Government; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“In 2017. the UAE levied excise tax on specific goods which are typically harmful to human health or the environment. This includes tobacco and tobacco products listed within Schedule 24 of the GCC Common Customs Tariff.”
- United Arab Emirates: legislation summary – Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“There are some restrictions at the sub-national level on the sale of certain types of smokeless tobacco.”
- Cabinet Decision No. 137 of 2026 on Excise Price for Tobacco Products and Liquids used in Electronic Smoking Devices and Tools – Federal Tax Authority (UAE) (Legislation, 26 August 2026; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Cabinet Decision No. 137 of 2026 – Issued 24 Jul 2026 (Effective from 1 Sep 2026)”
- Excise tax: what is excise tax (list of excise goods) – Federal Tax Authority (UAE) (Government; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Tobacco and tobacco products; Liquids used in electronic smoking devices and tools; Electronic smoking devices and tools”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.