This week, the Ministry of Finance proposed a law that would raise the price of cigarettes, while the Ministry of Health proposed graphic health warnings on cigarette packs.

According to a report by The National, the proposed amendments would raise the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes from around AED 7.00 (EUR 1.30) to about AED 9.00 (EUR 1.70).
The proposal which was presented by the Ministry of Finance to the cabinet became public at a press conference on Wednesday to announce the participation of the UAE in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) along with the World Health Organisation.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Health's National Tobacco Control Committee said cigarette packs will carry images of smoke-damaged human organs before the end of the year if by-laws are passed as planned. (pi)