Saudi Arabia is charting a new course in public health by embracing a strategy of harm reduction over prohibition. This approach is central to the Kingdom’s plan to help one million smokers quit a target initially set for 2032, but now expected to be achieved by 2026. The effort aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Quality of Life Program, which aim to improve public health through practical, science-backed solutions.
Unlike countries that rely heavily on bans and taxes, Saudi Arabia’s model focuses on minimizing risks rather than enforcing absolute abstinence. By providing access to safer, regulated nicotine products, the Kingdom acknowledges that not all smokers can quit immediately, but they can move toward less harmful alternatives that protect both personal and public health. Nicotine pouches like DZRT contain no tobacco, combustion, or smoke, eliminating most of the harmful chemicals responsible for cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Research from Europe and the Middle East supports this model, showing that such alternatives, when regulated, are significantly less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Early data from Saudi hospitals already indicates fewer smoking-related illnesses, alongside increasing acceptance of cessation products among the public.
Saudi Arabia’s experience in tackling tobacco addiction is proving that supporting safer nicotine alternatives not banning them can deliver real public health gains. Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Kingdom’s smoking cessation company Badael is driving one of the most ambitious anti-smoking initiatives in the region. Established in 2023, Badael is leading the charge through its flagship innovation, DZRT, the first Saudi-made tobacco-free nicotine pouch designed to help smokers’ transition away from cigarettes. In less than two years, the company has already helped 400,000 smokers shift from smoking, with 140,000 reportedly giving up nicotine altogether.
Earlier this year, Badael launched its “Let’s Clear the Air” campaign, marking its one-year anniversary. The campaign invites individuals, companies, and government institutions to collaborate in achieving a tobacco-free Kingdom. Its message is clear: reducing harm requires participation, not prohibition.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh, where 35% of adults still use tobacco and nearly 160,000 deaths occur each year from tobacco-related diseases, offers a cautionary example of how awareness and taxation alone are insufficient. Without adopting regulated safer alternatives, smokers remain trapped in the cycle of addiction. Saudi Arabia’s experience demonstrates that banning innovative products can backfire pushing smokers back toward more dangerous habits. Instead, the Kingdom’s strategy of education, access, and regulation shows a path forward: one that upholds public health goals while respecting consumer choice. Supporting safer alternatives doesn’t undermine tobacco control; it strengthens it, offering hope that a smoke-free future can be both achievable and sustainable.
