Is Vaping Legal in the UAE? Age, Product Rules and Tax (2026)
Short answer: Vaping is legal in the UAE for adults aged 18 and over. Devices and liquids sit under Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on tobacco control and the national standard UAE.S 5030:2018, which limits nicotine to 20 mg/ml and built-in tanks to 10 ml. Excise tax is 100%. Closed public spaces are off limits for use.
Is vaping legal in the UAE? How it became legal in 2019
Before 2019 the UAE did not permit the sale of e-cigarettes. That changed when ESMA, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, issued the technical regulation UAE.S 5030:2018, titled Electronic Nicotine Products (Equivalents of Traditional Tobacco Products). ESMA’s standards work now sits with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, known as MoIAT.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention has been clear on one point. E-cigarettes are not a separate category from tobacco, and they fall under Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control.
The age rule
Federal law forbids selling tobacco products to anyone under 18, and the seller may ask for proof of age, according to the UAE government portal. You will see 21 quoted on some shop pages. The federal text says 18, so 18 is the number we use, and we sell only to adults.
What UAE.S 5030 says about the product itself
The standard sets limits on the liquid, the tank and the labelling. These are the figures as summarised by the Tobacco Control Laws database, which cites each section.
| Requirement | Figure in the standard |
|---|---|
| Nicotine in the e-liquid | 20 mg/ml at most (section 4.2.4) |
| Built-in e-liquid tank | 10 ml at most (section 4.2.5) |
| Refill bottle | 50 ml at most per package (section 4.2.6) |
| Labels | Health warning in Arabic and English, plus a notice that sale is only to people over 18 |
| Approval | Needed before import, manufacture or sale (section 4.1.9) |
Approval now runs through the ECAS conformity scheme under MoIAT, which covers electronic vapes alongside other tobacco-related products. A certificate for the exact model is the paper that shows a product went through it. Ask any seller for one. Then compare two numbers on the listing, nicotine in mg/ml and tank size in ml, with the table above.
Where you cannot vape
The u.ae page lists what the tobacco law covers: closed public spaces, houses of worship, schools and universities, health facilities, sports facilities, and private cars with a child under 12 inside. The health ministry has said offices and other closed spaces apply to e-cigarettes too. Open-air rules vary by venue, so look for signs before you start.
Common mix-ups
Legal does not mean allowed everywhere
The law restricts where you can use a device, and a vape is treated like a cigarette for that purpose.
Nicotine-free is not exempt
The scope of the standard covers vape products that may or may not contain nicotine, so a 0mg device still falls under it.
Heated tobacco sits in the same standard
The scope also names heated tobacco products, which means devices like IQOS are regulated alongside vapes.
Tax
Vaping products carry a 100% excise tax. On 1 September 2026 a minimum excise price of Dh1 per millilitre began applying to the liquid. What that changes, and what it doesn’t, is in our guide to the new minimum excise price.
Health questions belong with health authorities
Nicotine is addictive. Questions about health effects, quitting or pregnancy are for a doctor or the Ministry of Health and Prevention, not a shop. Our responsible vaping and health disclaimer sits on its own page.
Ordering from us
We deliver to all seven emirates, free on orders of AED 350 or more and for AED 30 on orders below AED 350. Pay cash on delivery, or message us on WhatsApp for a payment link. The full process is in our ordering guide, and coverage is on the delivery areas page.
Background reading on Wikipedia: Electronic cigarette and Regulation of electronic cigarettes.
Common questions
Is vaping legal in the UAE?
Yes, for adults aged 18 and over. Vapes are regulated under Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control and the national standard UAE.S 5030:2018.
What is the legal age to buy a vape in the UAE?
18. The federal tobacco law forbids sales to anyone under 18, and sellers may ask for proof of age.
What is the maximum nicotine strength allowed in the UAE?
The standard sets a ceiling of 20 mg/ml for e-liquid and limits built-in tanks to 10 ml.
Can I vape in an office or other closed public space?
No. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has said e-cigarettes fall under the same ban on closed spaces as cigarettes.
Is vaping safe?
That is a question for a doctor or the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Nicotine is addictive.
Written and reviewed by DK Ridoy for Vape Royality Store. Rules and sources checked 3 October 2026. 18+ only. Contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Not for sale to minors, non-smokers, or pregnant women.
