Key Points
- Health Minister Ahmad Al-Awadhi issued Ministerial Decision No. 237 of 2026, effective January 1, 2027.
- The rules cover cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine liquids and cartridges, nicotine pouches, oral and smokeless tobacco and other nicotine-delivery systems.
- Sales of covered tobacco and nicotine products to people under 21 are prohibited.
- Online sales through websites, mobile applications, social media and delivery services are banned, as are vending-machine sales.
- E-cigarettes and heated tobacco will be treated as smoking in public and enclosed areas where smoking is already prohibited.
- Nicotine pouches and other oral or mucosal nicotine products that are not registered as medicines are prohibited.
- Text and pictorial health warnings must cover at least 50% of the principal display area of packaging.
- Advertising, promotion, sponsorships, free samples, gifts and discounts are prohibited.
2Firsts
August 17, 2026
Kuwait will introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for tobacco and nicotine products from 2027, bringing e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches under tighter rules covering age limits, online sales, product registration, advertising and use in public places.
According to Kuwait Times on August 16, Health Minister Ahmad Al-Awadhi issued Ministerial Decision No. 237 of 2026 regulating the trade and circulation of tobacco and nicotine products and nicotine-delivery systems. The decision was published on August 16 and will take effect on January 1, 2027.
The framework covers conventional tobacco products, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and devices, nicotine liquids and cartridges, nicotine pouches, oral and smokeless tobacco and newly developed nicotine-delivery products.
Sales to People Under 21 Prohibited
The rules prohibit the sale of covered tobacco and nicotine products to anyone under the age of 21.
Legal analysis of the decision says retailers will be required to verify a buyer's age using Kuwait's Civil ID or another approved form of identification.
The restriction applies across the tobacco and nicotine categories covered by the decision, including e-cigarettes and newer nicotine-delivery products, rather than conventional cigarettes alone.
Kuwait previously restricted tobacco sales to people under 21. The new decision brings a broader range of electronic and novel nicotine products into a more comprehensive regulatory framework.
Online and Delivery Sales Banned
The decision also significantly restricts where tobacco and nicotine products can be sold.
Covered products may not be sold through websites, electronic applications, social media platforms or delivery services. Sales through vending machines are also prohibited.
Sales are barred at grocery stores, mobile carts, temporary kiosks, exhibitions and entertainment events.
Tobacco and nicotine products may not be sold or displayed in schools, universities and other educational institutions, while outlets located within 200 metres of the boundaries of educational institutions are also prohibited from selling them.
Restrictions extend to public and private healthcare facilities, government institutions, sports clubs, health institutes, youth centres, theatres, cinemas and facilities intended for children and young people.
At cooperative societies and parallel markets, compliant products may only be displayed in designated, supervised areas and cannot be placed where customers can access them directly without supervision.
The decision builds on an earlier tightening of digital sales channels. In March 2026, Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and Industry prohibited the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, e-cigarettes and related devices and accessories through delivery platforms and similar digital channels.
Unregistered Nicotine Pouches Prohibited
Nicotine pouches face a more restrictive regulatory treatment under the new framework.
Legal analysis of Ministerial Decision No. 237 says nicotine pouches and other oral or mucosal nicotine products that are not registered as medicines may not be imported, manufactured, packaged, distributed, sold or advertised.
That creates a distinction between nicotine pouches and categories such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.
E-cigarettes, heated tobacco and other products not expressly prohibited may remain eligible for legal sale if they are registered and approved by the Ministry of Health and comply with applicable product standards. Unregistered nicotine pouches and certain other oral nicotine products are subject to an outright prohibition.
The rules also prohibit products of unknown origin, products that fail approved specifications, novel products lacking Ministry of Health approval and products exceeding permitted limits for nicotine, ingredients or emissions.
Products designed, packaged or marketed to appeal to children and young people are also prohibited, including products using cartoons, toy-like imagery or packaging resembling sweets, beverages or other youth-oriented consumer goods.
Vaping and Heated Tobacco Treated Like Smoking in Public Places
Another significant change affects where e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can be used.
From January 1, 2027, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will be treated in the same manner as smoking in public and enclosed places where smoking is already prohibited under Kuwaiti rules.
The measure removes a separate treatment based on whether a product burns conventional tobacco.
It applies to covered products and devices that produce smoke, vapour, aerosol, spray or similar emissions during use.
Products Must Be Registered With Health Ministry
Products that are not expressly prohibited must be registered and approved by Kuwait's Ministry of Health before they can be imported, manufactured, traded or sold.
Manufacturers and suppliers are required to disclose information including ingredients, nicotine concentration, additives, country of origin and batch details.
Products of unknown origin or those exceeding permitted limits for nicotine, ingredients or emissions are prohibited.
Packaging must carry both written and pictorial health warnings covering at least 50% of the principal display area.
The framework also restricts health or therapeutic claims that have not been approved by health authorities, including descriptors that could imply a product is lighter or less harmful without authorization.
The rules therefore extend beyond retail access into product approval, disclosure and packaging requirements.
Advertising, Influencers, Discounts and Sponsorships Restricted
The decision imposes broad restrictions on the marketing of tobacco and nicotine products.
Direct and indirect advertising, promotion and sponsorship are prohibited across traditional media, websites, social media, outdoor advertising, exhibitions and events.
Legal analysis of the decision indicates that influencers and content creators are also covered by the restrictions.
Companies may not distribute free samples or gifts, offer discounts or promotional deals, or use tobacco and nicotine brands to sponsor sports, cultural, social or educational activities.
The rules therefore impose restrictions on digital channels at both ends of the transaction: online sales are prohibited, while social-media marketing and influencer promotion are also restricted.
Kuwait Brings New Nicotine Categories Under a Broader Framework
A key feature of the decision is the integration of newer nicotine-product categories into a broader regulatory structure alongside conventional tobacco.
Kuwait had already restricted delivery-platform sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes earlier this year. Ministerial Decision No. 237 goes further by combining product registration, age restrictions, permitted sales locations, digital channels, advertising, packaging and public-place use within one framework.
The treatment of individual categories, however, is not identical. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco retain a route to legal sale if they meet registration and product requirements, while nicotine pouches and certain oral nicotine products not registered as medicines are expressly prohibited.
The Ministry of Health will coordinate inspections, monitoring and enforcement with other competent authorities.
With the rules taking effect on January 1, 2027, importers, manufacturers, retailers and digital platforms have several months to adjust product registrations, sales channels, packaging and marketing practices.
Follow 2Firsts for the latest updates on global tobacco and nicotine regulation, policy developments and industry trends.
Cover Image source: Kuwait Times
