UAE – Mubasher: The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has urged all businesses in the country to comply with minimum prices set for tobacco products, according to cabinet decision No. 55 of 2019 on the excise price for tobacco products.

Under the cabinet decision, excise price cannot be set under AED 0.4 for one cigarette, while the minimum price for waterpipe tobacco was set at AED 0.1 per gram, according to a statement released on Tuesday. This applies to all brands of cigarettes and locally traded tobacco products.

The decision came in line with the “UAE government’s efforts to build a safe and healthy community by limiting the consumption of products that harm individuals’ health, as well as the environment”, the tax authority said.

The UAE government set a 100% excise tax on tobacco and tobacco products, as well as electronic smoking devices and liquids, and energy drinks, in addition to a 100% excise tax on carbonated beverages and sweetened drinks.