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Tag: AIR

  • AIR Launches ‘Crown Switch’ in Germany

    AIR Launches ‘Crown Switch’ in Germany

    AIR Limited announced today (November 20) that its flagship Al Fakher brand has officially moved into the portable vape category with the launch of its Crown Switch device in Germany. Sold online via shisha-world.com, “Crown Switch is Al Fakher’s first rechargeable pod-based vape system using disposable pods and designed without ceramics or heavy metals, differentiating it from traditional coil-and-wick devices.”

    The product is powered by Greentank Technologies’ Quantum Vape platform and Coldstream cooling system, developed through a strategic partnership formed earlier this year. AIR says the technology delivers a colder, smoother, and more flavor-forward vapor experience aligned with Al Fakher’s hookah heritage.

    CEO Stuart Brazier said the launch reflects Al Fakher’s push to modernize its portfolio as hookah use expands in Western markets. The company plans a broader international rollout of Crown Switch in the coming months and anticipates accelerating new product development into 2026.

  • AIR Taking its Shisha Public on Nasdaq in 2026

    AIR Taking its Shisha Public on Nasdaq in 2026

    Shisha and inhalation technology company Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR) announced an agreement with Cantor Equity Partners to become publicly listed on the U.S. Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker “AIIR” in the first half of 2026. Founded in the UAE, AIR owns Al Fakher, “the world’s largest shisha brand by sales volume, holding over 60% of the U.S. market.” In 2023, the company launched OOKA, “the world’s first pod-based, charcoal-free electronic shisha device, aimed at modernizing traditional shisha use.”

    AIR reported $375 million in net revenue and $150 million in adjusted EBITDA for 2024, underscoring strong financial performance. The company said its planned U.S. listing will enhance global visibility, attract international capital, and reinforce Dubai’s position as a hub for innovation.

  • AIR Unveils First Sustainability Report and Roadmap

    AIR Unveils First Sustainability Report and Roadmap

    Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR) published its inaugural sustainability report, detailing a long-term strategy focused on public health, innovation, and environmental and social responsibility. The report positions AIR as a pioneer in tobacco- and nicotine-free shisha alternatives, highlighting major milestones such as the launch of Zodiac, a tea-based inhalation product, and OOKA, what the company says is the “world’s first pod-based, charcoal-free shisha device,” with over 14,500 devices and 500,000 pods sold to date.

    AIR’s new 2030 Roadmap, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, centers on five ESG (environmental, social, and governance) pillars: public health and innovation, working conditions, business integrity, environmental impact (notably water usage), and governance. The roadmap includes goals like improving gender diversity in leadership, strengthening supply chain standards, and increasing public education around harm reduction.

    “This report celebrates the huge progress we have already made in optimizing all aspects of our operations, but we are also aware that we have a responsibility to accelerate our ESG efforts over the coming years to protect the world around us,” AIR CEO Stuart Brazier said. “As the global leader in our industry, our purpose is to transform the sector by creating a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable inhalation experience whilst also preserving the rich social and cultural value of shisha.”

    The full report is available at www.air.global.

  • Kingsway in Talks Over AIR Stake Sale

    Kingsway in Talks Over AIR Stake Sale

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Kingsway Capital has begun meetings with big tobacco firms as the company prepares to sell its stake in Dubai-based tobacco business Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR), reports Reuters.

    Kingsway is the majority owner of AIR, and the company has held talks with potential investors, including BAT and Japan Tobacco, as part of a dual-track process where a seller pursues a sale and an initial public offering at the same time. 

    Al Fakher, which manufactures flavored molasses for shisha pipes, is AIR’s most valuable business. An investment in AIR would provide access to the shisha and e-shisha market in the Middle East and elsewhere.