UAE Issues New Guidelines for Tobacco-Free Workplace Policies

 

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has called on companies to strictly enforce tobacco free workplace policies and take disciplinary action against employees who violate the smoking bans. According to new guidelines companies should first inform smokers about the no-smoking rules and issue a written warning. Repeat offenders can then face penalties recorded in their employee file.

The guidelines were released to help both government and private sector workplaces prohibit smoking in all areas, both indoor and outdoor. UAE law already bans smoking in enclosed public spaces. Now workplaces must clearly display no-smoking signs and remove all ash trays. The tobacco-free policy applies to all on-site, including workers, managers, contractors and visitors.

Strict implementation is backed by health warnings. According to the Ministry, second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 toxic chemicals and significantly raises risks for diseases like lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses. Even ventilation cannot remove these dangers, as toxic particles linger in the air long-term. With this in mind, the UAE is taking strong steps to protect people from the harms of involuntary smoking in the workplace.