UAE vape tax expected to deter new smokers as countries tighten grip on e-cigarettes

Starting September 1, the UAE will implement a minimum excise price of Dh1 per millilitre for e-cigarette and vape liquids. This measure is part of the country's 'sin tax' regulations, aimed at deterring young people from taking up vaping and encouraging current users to reduce consumption. Under the new rules, products retailing below this threshold will be taxed as if they reached it, with an existing 100 per cent excise rate applied on top. Dr. Rachel Kaminski, a pulmonologist at the Saudi German Hospital in Dubai, stated that the policy is a positive step, particularly for young people and lower socioeconomic classes. While some users view the tax as a potential incentive to quit, others see it as a financial burden. Retailers have expressed concerns that significant price hikes could drive consumers toward unregulated, counterfeit products in the grey market.