Dubai: The Ministry of Health plans to implement a complete ban on shisha and midwakh once the UAE introduces the federal anti-tobacco law, expected to come in by June.
Smoking shisha, water pipe, is a popular pastime among Middle Easterners, who associate the activity with Middle Eastern culture.
Midwakh, Arabic pipe, is popular among teenagers who say it gives a more intense high.
The UAE has been working on a federal law regulating tobacco and its uses, content and trade, in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, told Gulf News that the law forbade tobacco use in enclosed areas and public places, without specifying the type of tobacco.
"It does not ban shisha totally, like in Sharjah, -- the law is very general – but maybe we will ask for the ban after the law comes out," she said, adding that midwakh has also been targeted.
She said banning the two tobacco products was the best option as regulations requiring content identification and warning signs on the products was not enforceable.
"Warning signs will not work with shisha and midwakh – how do you put the warning, on the pipe? – so banning is better," she said.
Your comments
I am a smoker too but I agree to the smoking ban in closed public areas. and for those closed areas they can put a smoking room for those that are smoking. Please let the people know that it is implimented already or not yet so that the public will know where they can smoke or not.
Rigel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 21, 2008, 17:13
Banning all the tobacco products was the best option as regulations requiring content identification and warning signs on the products was not enforceable.
Miriam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 21, 2008, 16:56
I am relatively new to Dubai but have back packed through areas of the Middle east in the past. Shisha has always been iconic to the region and something of a mystery from a tourist point of view. Although I agree with smoking regulations in public spaces, Shisha is a National past time and something truely unique to the region and for this reason it would be a shame to see laws introduced to ban this practice. Personally I dont smoke and dont find the smoke from shisha offencisive, if anything I enjoy the smell of the different flavours.
Matthew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 21, 2008, 16:22
It will be great that if the UAE goverment bans this shisha
Masum
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 21, 2008, 16:13
This is a very good decision, it will be supported strongly by public, people are getting heath aware and Smoking Kills that's a scientific fact no one can deny. Also banning tobacco as forbidden substance like Drugs is a better decision.
We urge the Ministry of Health to regulate more rules and regulations that reserves human health from harm.
Khaled
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 21, 2008, 15:30
