United Arab Emirates

Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 prohibit smoking in certain enclosed public spaces some of which are work places. Some of these spaces additionally may have designated smoking areas. Smoking accordingly is restricted in indoor workplaces.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor workplaces.

Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 prohibit smoking in certain enclosed public spaces. Some of these spaces may have designated smoking areas. The definition of “enclosed public space” also does not align with the definition in FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines. The prohibition in the legislation accordingly may not apply to all indoor public places contemplated by the FCTC. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places.

The definition of “enclosed public space” in Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 provides that public transport is the equivalent of “enclosed public space.” The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Although seemingly impossible to establish a smoking area in certain forms of public transport that meets the ventilation standards, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” nevertheless is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all means of public transport.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking is prohibited. Although the legislation does not explicitly address government facilities, some listed places may be such facilities. The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health and sports facilities. Some government facilities thus may have designated smoking areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including government facilities.

Although Decision No. 24 defines “public place” broadly, the law provides a list of places where smoking is prohibited. This list does not include private offices.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including private offices.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in health, pharmaceutical facilities and areas adjacent thereto. Decision No. 24 further does not permit health facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

As hospitals are 100% smoke free, the law and implementing regulations align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in health, pharmaceutical facilities, and areas adjacent thereto. This is interpreted as including the public areas of residential healthcare facilities. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to public areas of residential healthcare facilities.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in health, pharmaceutical facilities and areas adjacent thereto. This is interpreted as including non-residential healthcare facilities. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to non-residential healthcare facilities.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in educational institutions and areas adjacent thereto. This is interpreted as including childcare facilities/preschool. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to childcare facilities and preschools.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in educational institutions and areas adjacent thereto. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to primary and secondary schools.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in any form in educational institutions and areas adjacent thereto. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to universities and vocational facilities.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in shopping centers except in certain permitted areas. This provision however does not appear to include all shops. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including shops.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list places of entertainment and leisure, theaters, cinemas, and the like. This provision however does not appear to include all cultural facilities. The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities. Some cultural facilities thus may have designated smoking areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including cultural facilities.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in sports facilities and areas adjacent thereto. Decision No. 24 further does not permit such facilities to contain designated smoking areas.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to indoor stadiums and arenas.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 prohibits smoking or the use of tobacco in restaurants except in certain permitted areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including restaurants.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list places of entertainment and leisure, theaters, cinemas, and the like. This provision is interpreted as including bars, pubs, and nightclubs. The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities. Some bars, pubs, and nightclubs thus may have designated smoking areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

There do not appear to be casinos in the United Arab Emirates.

Although Decision No. 24 defines “public place” broadly, the law provides a list of places where smoking is prohibited. This list does not include hotels and lodging.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including public areas of hotels.

Although Decision No. 24 defines “public place” broadly, the law provides a list of places where smoking is prohibited. This list does not include hotels and lodging.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including hotel guestrooms.

Although Decision No. 24 defines “public place” broadly, the law provides a list of places where smoking is prohibited. This list does not include prisons/detention facilities.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including public areas of prisons and detention facilities.

The definition of “enclosed public space” in Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 provides that public transport is the equivalent of “enclosed public space.” The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Although seemingly impossible to establish a smoking area in a train or bus that meets the ventilation standards, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” nevertheless is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of public transport, including trains, buses, and other shared ground transportation. The law further should contain a definition of “public transport” in accordance with the definition provided in the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.

The definition of “enclosed public space” in Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 provides that public transport is the equivalent of “enclosed public space.” The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Although seemingly impossible to establish a smoking area in a taxi that meets the ventilation standards, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” nevertheless is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of public transport, including taxis. The law further should contain a definition of “public transport” in accordance with the definition provided in the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.

The definition of “enclosed public space” in Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 provides that public transport is the equivalent of “enclosed public space.” The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Although seemingly impossible to establish a smoking area in a commercial aircraft that meets the ventilation standards, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” nevertheless is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of public transport, including commercial aircraft. The law further should contain a definition of “public transport” in accordance with the definition provided in the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.

The definition of “enclosed public space” in Law No. 15 and Decision No. 24 provides that public transport is the equivalent of “enclosed public space.” The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Although seemingly impossible to establish a smoking area in commercial watercraft that meets the ventilation standards, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of public transport, including commercial watercraft. The law further should contain a definition of “public transport” in accordance with the definition provided in the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list public transport waiting areas and terminals and adjacent areas. The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities. Some public transport facilities thus may have designated smoking areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including public transport facilities.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list means of collective private transport.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list means of transport for petroleum, chemicals, and other highly flammable materials; and means of transport for foodstuffs, medicines, health products, and the like.

Article 11 of Decision No. 24 lists public places where smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited and includes in the list industrial facilities and fuel or gas bottling plants and adjacent areas. The legislation further provides that authorities may designate smoking areas in enclosed public spaces other than places of worship, educational, health, and sports facilities and establishes specific ventilation requirements for the smoking areas. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including industrial facilities and plants.

The law prohibits smoking while driving a private vehicle in which a child under the age of 12 is present.