Can You Vape in Dubai & the UAE? 2026 Vape and Nicotine Pouch Laws for Travelers

Vaping has been legal in the UAE since April 2019 under a regulated market, with product standards administered by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). E-liquids are capped at 20 mg/ml nicotine, refill packages at 50 ml, and integrated liquid tanks at 10 ml under UAE.S 5030:2018. The legal sales age is 18. Public use is restricted to designated smoking areas, private residences, permitted hotel areas, and airport smoking lounges; vaping is banned in enclosed public places, on public transport, and in government, education, and healthcare facilities, with emirate-level rules potentially stricter. Travelers may bring personal vaping equipment, but no official vape-specific quantity allowance was verified, so quantities should be kept personal and declared at customs if uncertain. Vapes must be packed in carry-on baggage, never used or charged on board an aircraft, and e-liquids must follow the 100 ml liquids rule. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches became legal in July 2025 under Cabinet Resolution No. 2 of 2025 and UAE.S 5061:2025, sold legally with no official personal import allowance. A minimum excise price of AED 1 per milliliter for e-liquids took effect September 1, 2026, setting a floor for the taxable price rather than adding a new levy. Penalties for violations depend on the offense, emirate, and legal provision, and non-compliant products may be confiscated. The UAE applies federal standards across all seven emirates, with a 20 mg/ml nicotine cap, 50 ml refill limit, age 18 requirement, and 100% excise rate. FDA authorization carries no special status in the UAE. Most critically, travelers must never bring THC or CBD vapes or other cannabis products into the UAE; licensed hemp and authorized medical frameworks create no tourist allowance, and narcotics offenses carry severe consequences under separate legislation, including for transit passengers.

(Source：herb.co)