The Ministry of Economy and Tourism organized a training workshop titled “Combating the Illegal Tobacco Trade,” aimed at raising awareness about the dangers associated with illegal trading practices related to tobacco products and nicotine derivatives. This event brought together various federal and local entities, as well as representatives from global tobacco and nicotine companies operating within the country.
This workshop is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal trade, while enhancing market supervision. It aligns with the ministry’s commitment to fostering a fair and secure business environment. The discussions emphasized the negative impact of harmful trade practices on the business ecosystem and highlighted international best practices for developing effective monitoring and inspection mechanisms. Additionally, it underscored the role of individuals and businesses in supporting relevant authorities to ensure the trading of compliant and trustworthy products.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is focused on strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors and reinforcing adherence to existing laws and regulations. This will be achieved through comprehensive regulatory plans that include increasing inspection tours across enterprises and retail outlets in various emirates, as well as tightening control at customs points to reduce the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products, thereby enhancing market efficiency.
The workshop featured interactive sessions and expert presentations discussing the impact of illegal trade on various tobacco products and derivatives, as well as the importance of instilling transparency and regulatory compliance principles to protect the business environment from detrimental practices and bolster its competitiveness and stability.
Participants highlighted the necessity to intensify community awareness and foster a culture of self-regulation among individuals and organizations. They advocated for increased inspection campaigns in collaboration with local and federal agencies to limit the circulation of counterfeit products and safeguard national markets.
The workshop reviewed the UAE’s monitoring and awareness initiatives to curtail illegal trade practices and ensure compliance with approved standards in national markets. The UAE acts as a significant hub for the tobacco trade both regionally and internationally, with tobacco product imports reaching approximately 14.9 billion dirhams in 2024. Exports were recorded at about 30.3 billion dirhams, while re-exports totaled 4.4 billion dirhams, thereby reflecting the critical need for intensified national efforts and enhanced cooperation among stakeholders to combat illegal trade practices.
The workshop also provided a platform for exchanging experiences and insights among participating entities, promoting communication channels between the public and private sectors to ensure compliance with established regulations and standards. This included discussions on supporting initiatives to cultivate conscious consumer culture and enhance self-regulation among commercial establishments and retail outlets.
In conclusion, participants proposed a series of recommendations aimed at improving regulatory frameworks, enhancing coordination between federal and local authorities to intensify inspection campaigns, developing field and technical regulatory tools against counterfeit products, and amplifying community awareness regarding the risks associated with trading illegal tobacco and nicotine products.