English
French
German
Italian
Polish
Russian
SpanishMarket Overview
Market Size and Growth Outlook
In 2024, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) e-cigarette market is set to go past $1.2 billion. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar make up about 80% of this. By 2025, the market should hit over $1.5 billion.
What’s Driving Market Growth
Young People Boosting Sales
The Middle East has lots of young folks aged 18-35. They’re the main users of e-cigarettes. In places like Saudi Arabia, more women are using them too, and the numbers are growing fast.
Changing Smoking Habits and Health Focus
Many people in the Middle East smoke hookah or cigarettes. But e-cigarettes are seen as a safer choice. This is especially true in countries with high taxes on tobacco. So, more people are switching to e-cigarettes.
Better Rules and Laws
Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE follow EU TPD standards for e-cigarette rules. These clear policies help make e-cigarettes legal and safe in nearby countries too.
Duty-Free Shops and Travel Sales
Duty-free rules help sell fancy disposable e-cigarettes at airport shops. These make up over half of the e-cigarette money from duty-free sales in the region.
Saudi Arabia: Top Market with Stronger Rules
Saudi Arabia is the biggest e-cigarette market in MENA, worth about $610 million in 2024. That’s 62.2% of the whole region’s market. Over two million people use e-cigarettes here. Disposable e-cigarettes cover more than 40% of sales, while open-system devices take up over 45%.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) started a certification system in 2023 based on EU TPD standards. This helps companies follow the rules. Starting July 2024, tougher rules on nicotine levels and packaging will kick in. Brands that don’t follow these rules are leaving. This has cut the number of brands by 20%. Now, top companies hold 65% of the market.
United Arab Emirates: Fancy Market and Trade Center
The UAE’s e-cigarette market is expected to reach $250-300 million in 2024. It’s growing fast at a 30% yearly rate. Dubai is a major hub, handling over half of the region’s e-cigarette trade.
Cool disposable e-cigarettes with LED screens and adjustable settings are popular. They make up over 20% of sales in the UAE. But rules aren’t always strict. Some products with too much nicotine are still sold in places like Dubai’s Dragon Mart.
Egypt: Budget-Friendly Market with Open-System Devices
Egypt’s e-cigarette market is worth $150-200 million. Over one million people use e-cigarettes, but they spend much less per person than in Saudi Arabia—only about one-sixth as much.
Open-system e-cigarettes are the most popular, with over 70% of the market. They’re refillable and cheaper than disposables. Pod-based open systems alone make up 35% of sales because they’re affordable for people watching their budgets.
Vape shops are the main way to buy e-cigarettes in Egypt since online shopping isn’t well-developed. Rules are loose now, but future taxes could shake up the market.
Which E-Cigarette Devices Are Most Popular in the Middle East?
Open-System Devices
Open-system e-cigarettes are still liked, even though their share dropped from 73% in 2022 to 62% in 2024 across MENA. These devices let users refill tanks and tweak settings. They’re great for people who want to save money over time.
Disposable E-Cigarettes
Disposable e-cigarettes are growing fast because they’re easy to use. They have over 40% of the market in GCC countries. By 2025, they could reach 58%. In rich places like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, fancy models with LED displays are getting common.
Closed-System Pod Devices
Closed-system pod e-cigarettes have a small share, about 10%. But new investments from big companies could help them grow. This is especially true in places like Saudi Arabia, where rules are becoming stricter and more like EU TPD standards.
Which Vape Brands Are Popular in the Middle East?
Saudi Arabia
Top Disposable Vape Brands
In Saudi Arabia, big disposable e-cigarette brands include Mazaj, Nasty, Oxbar, and Elf Bar. People like them for their simple designs and fun flavors that match local tastes. Disposables make up over 40% of the market here.
Top E-Liquid Brands
Popular e-liquid brands in Saudi Arabia are Mazaj, Nasty, VGOD, Dr.Vapes, Ripe Vapes, Mega Vape, and Sams Vape. They offer all kinds of flavors, like tobacco or fruity mixes, which attract both new and experienced users.
Top Open-System Brands
Leading open-system brands in Saudi Arabia are Uwell, VOOPOO, Vaporesso, SMOK, and OXVA. These are popular because they’re refillable and save money for long-term users.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Top Disposable Vape Brands
The UAE loves brands like Tugboat, Yuoto, Vozol, Mazaj, Nerd, Elf Bar, Vape Bars, Geek Bar, Nasty, and Al Fakher. Dubai’s role as a trade hub helps these brands spread. High-tech disposables with LED screens are a hit.
Top E-Liquid Brands
E-liquid brands like Tokyo, VGOD, Nasty, Mazaj, Dr.Vapes, Pod Salt, Sams Vape, Keep It 100, Ripe Vapes, and Al Fakher are big in the UAE. They offer creative flavors for all kinds of users.
Top Open-System Brands
Uwell, Geek Vape, VOOPOO, Vaporesso, and SMOK are well-known for open-system e-cigarettes in the UAE. Their customizable options attract users who want a personal vaping experience.
Egypt
Top Disposable Vape Brands
In Egypt’s budget-conscious market, brands like Vozol, Oxbar, Nasty, Zooka, and Elf Bar are popular. These are affordable and appeal to cost-aware buyers.
Top E-Liquid Brands
Tokyo is the top e-liquid brand in Egypt, with over 30% of the market. Other brands like Nasty Juice, Ripe Vapes, Bazooka Vapes, Chubby, Tribeca, and VGOD are also liked.
Top Open-System Brands
OXVA, SMOK, VOOPOO, Uwell, Vaporesso, and Geek Vape lead Egypt’s open-system market. Their low cost fits the local need for cheap vaping options.
Top Vape Brands in the Middle East B2B Market
Nasty from Malaysia is a top e-liquid brand with a 15% market share. Its Hooqa disposable shisha vape is made for Middle Eastern tastes. Tugboat from China offers cheap disposables. Yalla, an Emirati brand, targets fancy buyers with its Aura 18000 model, which has digital screens. Al Fakher mixes traditional shisha vibes with modern vaping in its Crown Series. UK-based Vape Bars serves both high-end and budget users with its Diamond and Ghost series.
Middle East B2B E-Cigarette Market Trends and Opportunities
Local Product Plans
Making products that fit local tastes is key in the Middle East e-cigarette market. Fruit flavors like mango and berry are super popular. Tobacco flavors do well in Saudi Arabia and Egypt because of the hookah tradition. UAE users like dessert flavors. Brands like Al Fakher offer shisha-style options, and Yalla uses Arabic designs on packaging for cultural appeal. Alcohol-free e-liquids follow Sharia rules in strict markets. High-tech disposables with LED screens are a hit in the UAE, while Egypt likes cheap open-system devices. Seasonal flavors, like date-inspired e-liquids, boost sales during Ramadan.
Market Opportunities and Future Outlook
The UAE, especially Dubai, is the region’s e-cigarette trade center, handling over 50% of MENA trade through Free Zone rules. Growing markets like Kuwait and Bahrain have low usage now but could grow by 20% yearly through 2027. Big companies like BAT are making the market more unified. The market should reach $1.5 billion by 2025, thanks to clear rules and more people using e-cigarettes.
Keys to Success in the Middle East
Brands need to follow SFDA and ESMA rules, offer flavors and designs that match local culture, grow their shop and online sales networks, and use Dubai’s shipping hub to gain more market share.
Partner with VEIIK
VEIIK offers top-notch vaping products made for different tastes around the world, including the Middle East. We follow local rules to ensure our products are safe and reliable. This builds trust and loyalty with users. For questions about VEIIK’s products or services for Middle Eastern markets, reach out today!
