Strong support for tobacco control in Oman with the backing of the WHO

The Omani Ministry of Health has announced the results of the 2025 National Survey on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors[1]. Regarding tobacco, its prevalence remains high among adult men and new products are still poorly regulated, but nine out of ten Omanis support a broader anti-smoking policy. This survey is part of the "Oman Vision 2040" plan to develop the country and the Sultanate's global commitments, particularly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), in support of Omani public health measures.

A general health survey that shows persistent challenges but widespread support for tobacco control

The national survey was conducted in 2025 in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in several governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. It involved significant participation from national entities and trained teams, and adhered to internationally recognized scientific methodologies. The results were validated in collaboration with the WHO, using standardized measurement tools to ensure their reliability and credibility. They have been published in various scientific journals.

The representative sample comprised 10,000 participants, Omani citizens and residents aged 15 years and over, selected according to various demographic criteria, lifestyle habits, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, anthropometric and vital measurements, as well as laboratory medical analyses.

Dr. Shatha Saud Al Raisi, Director of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, presented the key findings, highlighting the prevalence of risk factors, health behaviors, as well as the challenges and opportunities for prevention.

Regarding tobacco, nearly one in six men (16.1 %) currently consumes tobacco, smoked or not, while women hardly ever smoke (0.2 %).

Nearly 40% of smokers have attempted to quit in the past year.

Approximately 16% of adults are exposed to secondhand smoke at home and 20% at work.

Manufactured cigarettes, pipes and shisha remain the most consumed forms, while 2,130 adult men use electronic cigarettes, although vaping products are prohibited from being marketed in the country as well as from being promoted.

However, there is no data on the consumption of oral products (nicotine sachets and snus), as nicotine sachets are not regulated by any specific legislation.[2].

Regarding public policies to combat smoking: approximately 90% of Omanis support an increase in taxes on tobacco products and approximately 90% also support a ban on smoking in open public spaces.

Data collected as part of long-term socio-economic planning

During his opening remarks, Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Regulation, stressed that this survey addressed a pressing national need.

Its aim is to provide recent and accurate data on the population's health status, with a view to a sustainable health system and supporting evidence-based public policies. The goal is to allocate health resources more effectively to meet the population's long-term health needs (prevention, early detection, improved services and quality of life, etc.). It also aims to guide policies and programs in line with the objectives of "Oman Vision 2040," a government development program launched by Oman that aims to increase the country's economic, social, and cultural diversification for the period 2021-2040.

The importance of this survey lies in the fact that NCDs constitute one of the main health, economic, and social challenges facing the Sultanate of Oman, as in other countries worldwide. In this Gulf nation, 10.1% of annual male deaths are caused by tobacco-related diseases.[3], and the annual cost of smoking-related illnesses amounts to 126.5 million Omani rials (278 million euros).

Oman aims more broadly to respect its international commitments

This initiative also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 concerning improving health and reducing premature mortality due to NCDs.[4].

A recorded message from the WHO, presented by Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stressed the importance of the survey results in supporting health policies in the Sultanate of Oman and strengthening regional efforts to combat NCDs.

The Sultanate is one of the most regionally involved in the fight against tobacco. In 2023, after Saudi Arabia, It was the second country in the Arabian Peninsula to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes..

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[1]90% of Omanis favor raising tax on tobacco, ban on smoking in open, Times of Oman, published on February 15, 2026, accessed on February 17, 2026

[2]E-cigarette vaping in Oman, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, updated February 10, 2025, accessed February 17, 2026

[3]Drope J, Hamill S, Country profile: Oman, The Tobacco Atlas, New York: Vital Strategies and Economics for Health, updated in 2025, accessed February 17, 2026

[4]1 in 3 adults faces multiple NCD risk factors, Muscat Daily, published on February 15, 2026, accessed on February 17, 2026

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