Category: Middle East

  • PMI Expands IQOS in Middle East

    PMI Expands IQOS in Middle East

    Image: TRITOOTH

    Philip Morris International has launched IQOS Iluma in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, with a goal of creating a smoke-free future in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, according to the Saudi Gazette.

    “Adult smokers may be unaware of the choices they are making, largely due to the lack of information and knowledge on products that bring them harm, versus scientifically backed products that reduce the likelihood of smoking-related disease,” said Tarkan Demirbas, area vice president of the Middle East at Philip Morris Management Services (Middle East) Limited. “At PMI, we are invested in providing existing adult smokers with better alternatives through harm reduction innovations, which can help them take a step back from cigarettes toward better alternatives.”

    “Smoking-related diseases today call for a pragmatic solution that places consumers at the forefront while moving away from cigarettes,” said Saim Yasin, director of marketing and digital at PMMS. “IQOS Iluma is our latest innovation in tobacco-heating systems that will accelerate our goal toward a smoke-free future. Through a growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives, we are reaffirming our commitment to create realistic, society-wide change that can reimagine the world we are living in—without cigarettes.”

    The IQOS Iluma series offers three devices: IQOS Iluma Prime, IQOS Iluma and IQOS Iluma One. All the devices use new induction heating technology but offer different designs.

  • Connecting the Global Industry

    Connecting the Global Industry

    Photo courtesy of Quartz Business Media

    Get ready for WT Middle East

    World Tobacco Middle East is set to return to Dubai Nov. 27–28, 2023, reasserting its position as the largest international B2B tobacco event beyond western Europe, drawing attendees from over 90 countries. As the premier event for the Middle East’s tobacco industry, it has become a cornerstone for professionals in the field, fostering vital in-person connections, networking and business. 

    Trusted by leading brands and manufacturers, WT Middle East is the flagship exhibition of the World Tobacco series, which annually gathers over 13,000 professionals. With established events in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, the WT Events portfolio will be further expanding into Africa next year with a conference and exhibition in Zimbabwe, reflecting its dedication to supporting clients entering new markets and stimulating business growth. 

    This year’s event in Dubai is poised to be its biggest yet, featuring over 250 exhibitors, welcoming over 7,000 visitors and showcasing thousands of products. Due to its impressive growth, the event show floor has expanded to another hall, the Trade Centre Arena, with stand space now completely sold out.

    With new exhibitors from HTL Human Trust Lean, Khyber Tobacco Co., Multi Tabak, Ora Tobacco and Mind Spirit Designs & Works as well as returning companies such as Sopariwala, Kaane, ARD, Gulbahar and Premium Tobacco, the upcoming trade show promises to offer an even wider range of products and services for attendees. 

    To ensure a truly immersive experience, attendees can use the Lex Tobacco Smoking Lounge, an expansive 700-square-meter space designed for meetings, relaxation and product sampling. 

    At World Tobacco Middle East 2023, you can participate in the largest tobacco event outside Western Europe, avail yourself of exclusive offers from over 250 leading suppliers, connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge machinery and gain insights into regulatory matters. Such trade events are pivotal in nurturing personal and business relationships within the global tobacco industry. 

    For more information and registration details, please visit www.wtevents.com/middle-east.

  • Iran: Smuggling Ring Busted

    Iran: Smuggling Ring Busted

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Iran’s intelligence ministry busted a large tobacco smuggling network, reports Press TV. According to the ministry, members of the network were operating in 10 Iranian provinces as part of 15 connected smuggling bands.

    Millions of dollars from the illicit products were funneled into bank accounts outside Iran via illegal currency exchange shops. Foreign sanctions have caused a shortage of hard currency resources, leading to Iran introducing strict regulations to crack down on smuggling. Preventing smuggling is also part of Iran’s plans to help domestic manufacturers and prevent use of unsafe products.

    Increased prices of domestically produced cigarettes have led to an increase in smuggling, according to some experts.

    The smuggling bust led to 60 arrests and the closure of over 100 warehouses used to store the illicit tobacco products.

  • Al Fakher Considering Going Public

    Al Fakher Considering Going Public

    Credit: Nomad Soul

    The Dubai-based shisha manufacturer Al Fakher has hired Rothschild and Co. to advise on strategic options, including a possible initial public offering, two sources familiar with the matter said, reports Reuters.

    An IPO would take place in the region, either on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul or the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the sources said.

    Al Fakher is owned by Advanced Inhalation Rituals, a private company that is majority owned by London-based Kingsway Capital.

    Al Fakher, which was founded in 1999, makes flavored shisha molasses for use in hookah and is sold in more than 100 countries, according to its website.

    Middle East companies bucked global trends last year to raise about $22 billion through IPOs, according to Dealogic, which was more than half the total for the wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

  • Vaporesso Authorized to Sell in the UAE

    Vaporesso Authorized to Sell in the UAE

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has authorized Vaporesso, a subsidiary of Smoore International, to sell its products in the country, according to PR Newswire.

    The move makes Smoore the first vaping device manufacturer licensed to sell in the UAE.

    “We are thrilled by the MoIAT’s decision to grant our flagship products the marketing and sales authorization; this has boosted our confidence in obtaining the approval for [our] other seven premium products, including Luxe X and Gen PT Series, that are in the process of application,” said a spokesperson for Vaporesso’s Middle East team.

    Vapor companies operating in the UAE must meet Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology standards, which set out strict quality and safety requirements for e-cigarettes and related products, before placing them on the market.

    “The initial approval by the MoIAT, which allows the company to establish legal sales channels, both online and offline, for Vaporesso’s Xros Nano, Xros Mini, Xros 2 and Zero S across the UAE, is the testimony to the company’s commitment to offering market-leading vaping products with unmatched quality and functionality, allowing the global vapers to enjoy the fun and flavors unique in Vaporesso’s products,” Vaporesso wrote in a press release. “The market authorization also marks a significant step forward in its effort to further expand its presence in the Middle East.”

  • Study: PMI Uses Ad Loopholes in Israel

    Study: PMI Uses Ad Loopholes in Israel

    Image: piter2121 | Adobe Stock

    Philip Morris International has exploited loopholes in smoking product advertisement bans in Israel, a new study shows, reports The Jerusalem Post.

    The study, published in Tobacco Control, analyzes PMI’s advertising expenditure over four years across the general population, the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) public, Arab speakers and Russian speakers.

    “We conducted a comparison among the advertising expenditures for all Philip Morris cigarette brands and the IQOS brand (a heated-tobacco stick that entered the local market in December 2016) in light of regulatory changes that restricted the advertising of tobacco products,” said doctoral student Amal Khayat.

    Advertising restrictions led to a reduction in PMI’s marketing expenditures, but it exploited legal loopholes in the printed press, according to the study.

    “Even after the law came into effect, the company continued to spend almost NIS3 million [$872,566.93] on advertising with a focus on the printed press,” said Yael Bar-Zeev, lead researcher. “While the law restricted print advertising to one advertisement in each newspaper, 40 percent of the IQOS adverts placed were giant, two-page ads, effectively doubling the product’s advertising space while still being considered a single advert as allowed by the letter of the law.”

    PMI also used QR codes, allowing consumers to scan and view additional information. Before the law went into effect, according to the study, PMI significantly increased its advertising to the studied population groups, particularly the Haredi population, which previously had the lowest smoking rates in Israel.

    “Our data shows that since the introduction of the IQOS e-cigarettes, 216 targeted ads were published, of which 55 percent were created for the Haredi public, 6 percent for the Arab public and the rest for the Russian-speaking public,” said Bar-Zeev. For regular cigarette brands, 87 percent of advertisements were targeted at the Haredi population.

    “We expected that the company would focus on populations with the highest rates of smoking in Israel—Arab men—and not on the population that had hardly any smokers,” said Bar-Zeev.

    Following the study, the 24th Knesset decided to remove the printed press advertisement exception but deferred implementation for seven years. In the interim, coupons, QR codes and advertisements featuring cigarette packs that do not have mandatory plain packaging are banned in the printed press.

  • Milo Vapes to Launch Two Unique Brands for Middle East

    Milo Vapes to Launch Two Unique Brands for Middle East

    Milo Vapes Global (MVG) has announced its plan for its Fall 2022 product launch. The range of flavored nicotine vaping products will be released under two brands, Milo Vapour and Sahara Mist, which will be distributed exclusively in the Middle East market.

    “Influenced by history and culture, we carefully selected and drafted new and innovative tobacco products that are tailored to the consumers’ tastes and cravings,” says Mike Khalil, president, and founder of MVG. “The company is committed to its mission of delivering solutions to the smoking epidemic by delivering new tobacco products that aim to better smokers’ quality of life.”

    The e-cigarettes market is estimated to grow at a rate of 9.7 percent annually and is estimated to reach $485 million by 2025, up from $267.9 million in 2018. MVG aims to contribute to the growth of the e-cigarette market through innovations and brand recognition in conjunction with our harm reduction initiative, according to a press release.

    “Governments could play an essential role in changing the population’s behavior toward smoking. The government must regulate and oversee the vape industry in each country, and the health departments should safeguard the vape industry and protect consumers in each country by ensuring the safety and integrity of e-cigarettes,” said Khalil. “Furthermore, healthcare providers should advise smoking patients to transition to less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes through healthcare strategies and disease prevention programs.”