Jordan and Qatar tighten tobacco product restrictions and launch awareness campaigns

Jordan's Ministry of Health issued new instructions that prohibit the display of tobacco products in shops, requiring them to be hidden behind a black cover or kept in locked cabinets. The measures target the high prevalence of smoking, with 38% of smokers starting before age 18 and an adult smoking rate of 51%, and are enforced through inspections in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and education‑sector awareness campaigns. The ministry also operates 31 smoking‑cessation clinics that saw about 21,000 patients in the past two years, achieving a 16% quit rate.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Public Health marked World No Tobacco Day 2026 with a nationwide awareness drive under the slogan “لا تنخدع... إنها أخطر مما تظن” (“Don’t be deceived… it’s more dangerous than you think”). The campaign used social‑media messages, school lectures, and partnerships with premium shopping complexes to highlight the health hazards of tobacco and nicotine products and to promote healthier lifestyles.

Both initiatives aim to reduce tobacco use and improve public health in their respective countries.