http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/saudi_arabia.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=111588&d=7&m=7&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/268366.html The Anti-Smoking and Narcotics Association in the Makkah province will call on the authorities to force cigarette manufacturers to include on packets pictures depicting the effects of smoking-related diseases. Arab News Saudi Arabia Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080604041418/secIndustries/pagHealthcare http://tobacco.org/news/266493.html Ban on smoking in public places and selling tobacco to people under 20 have cut sales of cigarettes in the GCC by 12 per cent, according to industry experts. Total sales across the region are about 60 billion cigarettes a year and Saudi Arabia is the largest market with an annual total of 12 billion. Small- and medium-sized tobacco manufacturers expect their business volume to decline further due to increased taxes and restrictions in regional markets. But global giants such as British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International (PMI), which dominate the market, recorded an increased sales in the first quarter of 2008 mainly due to higher turnover in East Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Eema). Zawya.com support@zawya.com (VM Satish) Uae Saudi Arabia Africa Iran Iraq Mid-east Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/theuae_May1000.xml&section=theuae&col= http://tobacco.org/news/266287.html DUBAI -- The rate of smoking is increasing in all GCC countries due to the absence of an anti-tobacco law, said a senior health official yesterday. Dr Abdullah Al Badah, Supervisor-General, Tobacco Control Programme for the AGCC for Saudi Arabia, revealing details of the recently carried out Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), said that 80 per cent of the youth in the GCC favour a blanket ban on smoking while shisha was the most preferred form of tobacco. The UAE GYTS on youth aged between 13 and15 years, includes data on prevalence of cigarette and other tobacco use as well as information on five determinants of tobacco use: access/availability and price, environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS), cessation, media and advertising, and school curriculum. Khaleej Times Uae Saudi Arabia Mid-east Fri, 30 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080531042117/secIndustries/pagHealthcare http://tobacco.org/news/266199.html Jeddah National Hospital (JNH) has offered a cash award of SR5,000 to the first 200 Saudis and expatriates who quit smoking within the next two years. "We have allocated SR1 million for this purpose," V.P. Mohammed Ali, managing director of the hospital, said. He was speaking at a medical seminar organized by the Indian Islahi Center in Jeddah to mark the World Anti-Tobacco Day, which falls today. "I hope more businessmen and philanthropists would join this program to encourage the public to get rid of this unhealthy habit," Ali said. Zawya.com support@zawya.com (P.K. Abdul Ghafour) Saudi Arabia Sat, 31 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=110151&d=22&m=5&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/265697.html Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, governor of Jeddah, will inaugurate on June 1 the third national anti-smoking campaign in Makkah Province, under the banner, “The hope of the nation lies in its youth.” The campaign, which is organized by the Anti-Smoking and Drugs Association for Makkah Province, will include many side events, according to Abdullah Al-Othaim, chairman of the association. On behalf of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Prince Mishaal is scheduled to inaugurate the association’s new headquarters in Al-Faiha area of the holy city. He will also open the association’s permanent exhibition inside the new building. The anti-smoking campaign is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), represented by its regional director Dr. Hussain Al-Jazairi, in addition to many other concerned international organizations and associations, Al-Othaim said. . . . In an article published in Tobacco.org website, Dr. Abdullah Al-Baddah, director of the Tobacco Control Department at the Ministry of Health, said that Saudi Arabia ranks 23 worldwide in terms of smokers per capita. Arab News Saudi Arabia Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://en.rian.ru/world/20080424/105853528.html http://tobacco.org/news/264125.html A successful Saudi businessman from Taif, a city in the Mecca Province, paid his son a $267,000 reward for quitting smoking, the Lebanese As-Safir newspaper said on Thursday. The son learned of the gift when he asked bank officials why such a large sum had appeared on his account. "I'm glad that after nine years of smoking my son finally managed to get rid of this bad habit," said the father, whose name was not disclosed. Saudi Arabia, the 23d largest consumer of cigarettes, has witnessed a major anti-smoking campaign in recent years. Russian Information Agency Novosti !--Rating@Mail.ru Saudi Arabia Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=109265&d=24&m=4&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/264049.html Tobacco traders in the Kingdom offered a bribe of SR4 million to organizers of a campaign titled “Family Without Smoking ... For Protection from Cancer” to stop it, said Fahd Al-Suleimani, president of Iman Charitable Society for the Care of Cancer Patients. “They also offered a bribe of SR2 million if we remove the words ‘For Protection from Cancer’ from the campaign slogan,” Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted Al-Suleimani as saying at a press conference held to announce the campaign. He said the monthlong campaign, which began yesterday, includes a three-kilometer walk on the Jeddah Corniche on Wednesday with the participation of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Saudi singer Muhammad Abdu. Arab News Saudi Arabia Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=108451&d=1&m=4&y=2008 http://tobacco.org/news/262415.html Fed up with an unhealthy habit, village leaders in Marba, 150 km north of Yanbu, have vowed to make their hometown the Kingdom’s first tobacco-free community. “Convinced of the health hazards of consuming tobacco, local shopkeepers are cooperating with our efforts,” Saud Saad Al-Orfi, chief of the village, told Arab News. The ban includes sheesha . . . Abdullah also pointed out that several scholars in the Kingdom have issued fatwas prohibiting tobacco smoking. Village leaders will take their campaign to local schools for the benefit of teachers and students. Some have even called for Friday sermons highlighting the dangers of smoking. Arab News Saudi Arabia Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=106800&d=15&m=2&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/259940.html After seven days of awareness-raising efforts among the growing number of women smokers, the Anti-Smoking Society in the Makkah Region concluded its campaign yesterday. The group focused on popular hangouts where Saudi women enjoy blowing smoke. “We found the experience successful and women were aware and open to receiving advice and know more about the risks they are taking,” said Om Al-Hosn Al-Sharif, head of the women’s department at the society. There are approximately 600,000 Saudi women that smoke, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Badah, supervisor of the anti-smoking program at the Health Ministry. During the first and second days of the campaign, women members of the society distributed flyers and brochures on Jeddah’s Corniche with facts about smoking and its dangers. They included information about smoking shisha (water pipe tobacco) as well. Arab News Saudi Arabia Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=106403&d=3&m=2&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/259132.html Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah stated yesterday that the government would leave no stone unturned to strengthen the health sector. “Nothing is expensive when it comes to people’s health,” the king said, emphasizing the government’s readiness to meet the requirements of the health sector regardless of cost. King Abdullah made this comment after receiving World Health Organization’s (WHO) shield in appreciation of his efforts to combat smoking and for declaring Makkah and Madinah as tobacco-free cities. Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie presented the shield to the king during a reception at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency said. . . . Saudi Arabia, where a considerable number of people smoke, has launched a strident campaign against tobacco. Dr. Abdullah Al-Badah, supervisor of the Anti-Smoking Program at the Health Ministry, has called for increasing tariff on tobacco imports from 100 to 200 percent. “Imposing higher import tariff is the best way to cut down tobacco consumption,” Al-Badah said. Arab News Saudi Arabia Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=104903&d=23&m=12&y=2007 http://tobacco.org/news/257627.html A study of 1,050 students in Jeddah and Riyadh revealed that smoking, especially water pipes, is fairly widespread among students from rich families. The survey covered college students aged between 18 and 26. A significantly high incidence of smoking was associated with high-income families. The findings support another study conducted in Riyadh, which showed that 44 percent of male medical students interviewed in the capital smoked sheesha and 32.3 percent smoked cigarettes. More than 90 percent of the students were aware of the link between smoking and heart diseases, yet only 75 percent were conscious of the fact that smoking is also responsible for strokes. Arab News Saudi Arabia Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=104903&d=23&m=12&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/257051.html A study of 1,050 students in Jeddah and Riyadh revealed that smoking, especially water pipes, is fairly widespread among students from rich families. The survey covered college students aged between 18 and 26. A significantly high incidence of smoking was associated with high-income families. The findings support another study conducted in Riyadh, which showed that 44 percent of male medical students interviewed in the capital smoked sheesha and 32.3 percent smoked cigarettes. More than 90 percent of the students were aware of the link between smoking and heart diseases, yet only 75 percent were conscious of the fact that smoking is also responsible for strokes. Arab News Saudi Arabia Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009275304 http://tobacco.org/news/255863.html Saudi Arabia wants to bring the national battle it has waged against 14 tobacco firms to higher grounds by asking the rest of the Persian Gulf states to also sue cigarette companies operating in the region. Dr. Tawfiq Khoja, director general of the Executive Bureau of the Gulf Cooperation Council of Health Ministers said Tuesday it will not allow the cigarette producers to influence further young Middle Easterners to take up the habit. To slow down nicotine consumption in Saudi Arabia, the state filed a suit against 14 tobacco firms, asking for a $2.7 billion (10 billion riyal) compensation to cover the medical bills for locals with smoking-related ailments. In addition, the Saudi government is asking for a $133 million (500 million riyal) annual payment to cover the cost of ongoing treatment. Riyadh also wants to end tobacco sponsorship at sporting events. The habit claims 7,000 lives in Saudi every year, mostly young people. Dr. Khoja disclosed 45 percent of them are people in their mid-20s, 27 percent high school students and 13 percent female teachers. Other Gulf states are beginning to pick up the battle. Last week the United Arab Emirates started to implement the second phase of the smoking ban covering restaurants, cafes and shisha stores. The region has the biggest smoking rate in the world, with 24.3 percent of puffers school children. All Headline News Uae Saudi Arabia Mid-east Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=101279&d=17&m=9&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom http://tobacco.org/news/252536.html With Muslim smokers already refraining from the habit during daylight hours this month, a number of health experts and officials say that Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to kick the habit for good. According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Baddah, director of the Tobacco Control Department at the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia ranks 23 worldwide in terms of smokers in population per capita. Each year Saudis consume as many as 15 billion cigarettes and inhale 40,000 tons of tobacco smoke. "We in the Tobacco Control Department make use of the occasion ... to urge smokers around the Kingdom to utilize the chance Ramadan offers to give up smoking," Arab News Saudi Arabia Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabianbusiness.com/500166-setback-in-saudi-suit-against-big-tobacco-?ln=en http://tobacco.org/news/252444.html Saudi intends to sue international tobacco firms unless they agree to pay the full costs of treating patients for tobacco-related illnesses. (Getty Images) Saudi Arabia’s 10 billion Saudi riyal ($2.67 billion) lawsuit against the tobacco industry took a step back on Tuesday as representatives of the unnamed companies failed to attend the first hearing, causing the court case to be postponed until October 31. “All health officials concerned in the case appeared at the trial within the specific time appointed by the judge. No representatives from the companies came,” said Ibrahim Al-Musaitee, head of the legal department at the Health Ministry, quoted Saudi daily Arab News. Arabian Business safura.rahimi@itp.com (Safura Rahimi on Wednesday, 12 September 2007) Saudi Arabia Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT