Dubai: While the UAE has taken major steps to protect people from second-hand smoke, stricter measures to protect children are taking longer because of “obstacles”, a senior health official said. Dr Wedad Al Maidour, head of the national tobacco control committee, said the law prohibiting smoking in a car if a child is aboard is taking time to enforce. The health ministry official was responding to a study in the British medical jour ... Jump to full article >>

Dr Wedad Al Maidour, head of the tobacco control team, said it is coordinating with the ministry of finance to make the habit costlier for smokers. A pack of cigarettes on average currently costs Dh7 across the emirates. She said it will be difficult to impose an additional levy on tobacco, but that the team hopes to make it more expensive for smokers at the check-out counters of shops. Studies have shown that whenever there is an increase in ci ... Jump to full article >>

A tough new anti-smoking law was unveiled on Thursday, imposing heavy fines and imprisonment for those who flout its provisions. Under the law, smoking is banned in public places and on public transport, in vehicles where children under 12 are present, and in educational and health facilities and places of worship. The introduction of the new law meets the UAE’s requirements as a member of the World Health Organisation and signals the nati ... Jump to full article >>