Thursday, October 9, 2025
Saudi Arabia Bans Tobacco Shops Near Mosques and Schools
Saudi Arabia has banned tobacco shops from operating within 500 meters of mosques and schools. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has agreed to new guidelines that will help this choice.
The Kingdom's new rules aim to safeguard public health, enforce adherence to existing laws, and maintain a safe and orderly business environment. Trending: Saudi Central Bank issues new bank account rules for expats and visitors in Saudi Arabia
Stores Covered by the Rules
All stores that sell tobacco or associated items, such as cigarettes, shisha, and e-cigarettes, must obey the new rules.
To get a license, store owners must have:
➤ A valid commercial registration,
➤ Civil Defense approval, and
➤ Full compliance with the Municipal Licensing Procedures Law and its regulations.
Location and Space Requirements
■ Stores must be inside commercial buildings located in urban areas.
■ The minimum store size is 36 square meters.
■ Each municipality may have additional conditions based on street width and site classification.
Signage and Operation Rules
🔘 No logos or promotional materials are allowed on exterior signs—only the store name may appear.
🔘 Sidewalk use outside the store is prohibited.
🔘 Security cameras must be installed inside and outside.
🔘 Stores must follow public hygiene standards, ensure safe waste disposal, and provide electronic payment options. Most Viewed: Saudi Arabia plans to expand rent freeze for 5 years all over the Kingdom
Technical and Building Standards
Store owners must follow technical and architectural requirements, including:
🔹 Facade designs that follow Saudi urban design codes,
🔹 Ramps for people with disabilities,
🔹 Alarm and fire extinguishing systems,
🔹 Compliance with the Saudi Building Code for ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and fire safety.
Product and Sales Regulations
• It is forbidden to mix, repackage, or sell tobacco in unapproved packaging.
• Stores must be able to prove the source of all products.
• Sales to anyone under 18 are prohibited, and sellers can ask for ID.
Warnings and Transparency
👉 Stores must put up signs alerting people about the dangers of smoking.
👉 For openness, QR codes that link to information about licenses and rules must be easy to see.
👉 Promoting tobacco, offering free samples, or using tobacco as rewards is banned.
👉 Selling single cigarettes or products not approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is also banned.
Monitoring and Enforcement
Municipal authorities will inspect stores to ensure compliance. Shops that break the rules will be punished. The goal of these steps is to make the city safer, more efficient, and cleaner and to make sure that people obey the rules. See Also: Saudi Arabia adopts wage clause in employment contracts
Product Control and Packaging Rules
✅ All tobacco and related products must meet SFDA standards.
✅ Products of unknown origin or with misleading information are prohibited.
✅ All packages, large or small, must include clear warning labels that meet SFDA requirements.
✅ Cigarettes must be sold in sealed packs—not individually.
✅ Vending machines for selling or displaying tobacco are banned.
Price and Promotion Restrictions
✓ Stores cannot reduce prices or offer gifts, prizes, or free samples as promotions.
✓ It is illegal to import, sell, or advertise any product that promotes tobacco.
✓ All tobacco must be undamaged and free of defects.
✓ Retail sales of tobacco by weight (kilo or part) are banned—sales must follow SFDA-approved sizes and weights.
✓ Product information must be clear and easy to read.
Additional Requirements
➤ Consumers cannot test tobacco products.
➤ E-cigarette liquids must be sealed and leak-proof.
➤ It is forbidden to mix tobacco with e-cigarette liquids.
➤ All products must display clear prices. Join Saudi Expatriates channel on Telegram for all the latest updates
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