Saudi Arabia

The definition of "smoking," as further developed in the Executive Regulation of the Tobacco Control Law specifically includes the use of e-cigarettes. As a result, smoking restrictions contained in the Anti-Smoking Law (also known as the Tobacco Control Law) apply to the use of e-cigarettes.

Smoking and e-cigarette use are prohibited in most indoor public places and workplaces, but allowed in designated smoking rooms in bars, nightclubs, stadiums, casinos, and shops.

There is no law addressing e-cigarette advertising and promotion; therefore, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes are allowed.

The law does not address the display of e-cigarettes at the point of sale; therefore, point-of-sale product display is allowed.

The SASO Technical Regulations for Electronic Smoking Devices prohibit suppliers from presenting the product as a healthy alternative to smoking.

The law does not address internet sales of e-cigarettes. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing sales via the internet.

The law prohibits certain e-cigarette flavors, including cocoa, vanilla, coffee, tea, spices, candy, chewing gum, cola, and alcohol. The only permitted flavors are fruit flavors, menthol, or a mixture of these.

The law prohibits certain e-cigarette ingredients, including: vitamins or other additives which give the impression that the product has a healthy benefit; caffeine, taurine or other additives and stimulants associated with stimulating performance and vitality; color additives that add color to the emissions; substances with carcinogenic, genetic mutation-causing or toxin-producing properties before burning; and substances that are specified as illegal to trade in such as psychotropics, narcotics, hallucinogens and stimulants.

The law requires that outer packaging display health warnings on the front and back surfaces. 

Under the Saudi Food & Drug Authority's Controls and Requirements for Electronic Smoking Devices (2019), health warnings on device and e-liquid packaging must cover 65% of the front and back surfaces. The warning must state: “The product contains nicotine which causes addiction.”

Under the Saudi Food & Drug Authority's Technical Regulation on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (2020), health warnings on e-liquid packaging must cover 30% of the front and back surfaces. The warning must state: "This product damages your health and contains addiction-causing nicotine."

Under the SASO Technical Regulations, information on the label must be written in English and Arabic.

The law requires that unit packs of e-cigarette and retail containers include a leaflet containing information about instructions for use and storage, including the mechanism of opening the product and re-filling it.

The law prohibits the product packaging from containing any of the following:

- Promoting the product or encouraging its consumption through messages or implications regarding its characteristics, health effects, risks, or emissions.
- An implication that the product is less dangerous than other products, or that it aims to reduce the harmful effect of smoking.
- Any element or publication promoting the product or containing promotional offers.

Under the SASO Technical Regulations, packaging must also including warning labels regarding child safety.

The maximum concentration of nicotine in e-liquid is 20 mg/ml.

The law includes a list of e-cigarette device requirements that include, but are not limited to, the devices are to be protected against breakage and be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Further, the device must be designed to withstand the damage caused by children, so that it does not cause health risks to children, by placing markings to protect from children and setting appropriate mechanisms for opening and closing the containers.

In addition, the capacity of the internal cartridge must not exceed 2 ml. The capacity of a refill container must not exceed 10 ml under the Saudi Food & Drug Authority's Controls and Requirements for Electronic Smoking Devices (2019) and 30 ml under the Saudi Food & Drug Authority's Technical Regulation on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (2020).

Manufacturers and importers must submit a declaration of conformity indicating that their product complies with the legal requirements. They must also obtain a national certificate of compliance for their products.