It's 'World No Tobacco Day' today, and once again authorities are highlighting the harmful impact of smoking.
This year, the focus is on protecting youth from industry manipulation.
The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched several awareness campaigns on social media platforms.
It’s also urged companies not to promote e-cigarettes as less harmful products without any scientific evidence.
The ministry has already established a network of 16 smoking cessation clinics and there are more in the pipeline.
There’s also a national committee for tobacco control in the UAE, comprising 12 government entities to draft legislations and regulations, along with a database about tobacco use, its products, and its trade.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smokers are most likely to develop additional health complications if infected with COVID-19.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the second phase of UAE government's "Zero Bureaucracy" programme.
UAE airlines continue to face disruptions to passenger services to Iran, Israel, Iraq and Syria "due to airspace closures and ongoing regional situation".
In a major anti-drug operation codenamed 'Bottom of Darkness', Sharjah Police have seized over 3.5 million Captagon pills, worth more than AED 19 million.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held separate calls with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides over intensifying efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel.