TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Shisha

  • OOKA Marketing Efforts Target Miami Music Week

    OOKA Marketing Efforts Target Miami Music Week

    Shisha brand OOKA is using Miami Music Week as a marketing platform, hosting branded activations at pool parties in The Sagamore South Beach and Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel from March 25–29. The company is targeting hospitality and nightlife channels by offering VIP guests access to its charcoal-free hookah devices, positioning the product in high-traffic, premium social settings to drive visibility and trial among adult consumers.

    The activation focuses on integrating shisha use into venue experiences, highlighting ease of operation and suitability for bars, hotels, and clubs as operators seek alternatives to traditional hookah setups. The effort reflects a broader push by OOKa’s parent company, Advanced Inhalation Rituals, to expand distribution through experiential marketing and partnerships with hospitality venues, particularly in international nightlife hubs.

  • Jordan to Tighten Regs on Shisha Tobacco

    Jordan to Tighten Regs on Shisha Tobacco

    Jordan will prohibit the sale of loose shisha tobacco starting April 1, requiring all products to be sold in officially approved packaged containers, according to the country’s Income and Sales Tax Department. The measure is part of new regulations governing the licensing and operation of shisha tobacco factories introduced in 2025, aimed at strengthening oversight of manufacturing and distribution while ensuring compliance with tax and regulatory requirements. Authorities said the move will help regulate the trade of shisha tobacco and improve monitoring across the supply chain.

    Under the updated rules, factories must meet a range of operational requirements, including locating facilities in designated industrial zones, maintaining a minimum production area of 1,000 square meters, and employing at least 10 registered Jordanian workers. Producers must also comply with national production standards, maintain computerized accounting and inventory systems, and meet regular tax reporting obligations. Existing factories have been given up to one year to bring operations into compliance, while traders have been urged to prepare for the packaging-only sales requirement before the April 2026 implementation date.

  • Bangladesh Court Gives Authorities 30 Days to Close Hookah Lounges

    Bangladesh Court Gives Authorities 30 Days to Close Hookah Lounges

    Yesterday (March 3), Bangladesh’s High Court ordered authorities to shut down illegal shisha and hookah lounges nationwide within 30 days and issued a statement, questioning why failure to act against such establishments should not be declared unlawful. The bench of Justices Razik-Al-Jalil and Md Anowarul Islam directed secretaries of the home and health ministries, as well as the heads of the Department of Narcotics Control, Rapid Action Battalion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and Dhaka North and South city corporations to respond.

    The order followed a public interest writ filed by Supreme Court lawyer SM Zulfiqure Ali Junu, who argued that many lounges operate under the guise of cafés and restaurants without lawful authority, posing serious public health risks. The petition cited violations of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2013) and the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, alleging that authorities had failed to act despite reports of minors accessing shisha.

  • Kyrgyzstan Tightening Hookah Laws

    Kyrgyzstan Tightening Hookah Laws

    Kyrgyzstan opened public consultation on draft legislation that would tighten the regulation of hookah use by banning water pipes, shisha, and nargile in all public places. Under the proposal, hookah consumption would only be allowed in specially designated, licensed venues equipped with ventilation systems and restricted to adults aged 18 and over. The draft also amends the country’s licensing and permitting law, formally requiring businesses offering hookah services to obtain a dedicated operating license, marking a significant step toward stricter oversight of the sector.

  • 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.

  • Cambodia Reinforces Ban on E-Cigarettes and Shisha

    Cambodia Reinforces Ban on E-Cigarettes and Shisha

    Cambodia issued a directive today (October 22) enforcing bans on e-cigarettes and shisha pipes, “aiming to safeguard public health and maintain social order.” Prime Minister Hun Manet said the move comes in response to the widespread use of these products among children and youth, which he described as a threat to both health and social stability.

    The directive prohibits the import, distribution, sale, advertisement, use, possession, production, and storage of electronic smoking devices and shisha in all forms. Hun Manet also instructed the Ministry of Education to ensure these products are banned in and around schools, teacher training institutions, dormitories, community learning centers, gyms, and sports facilities.

    Cambodia first restricted shisha and e-cigarettes in 2014, citing serious health risks. The Ministry of Health warns that e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine and can be used with marijuana and other drugs, while shisha contains significant toxins.

  • Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told the Senate that the country currently lacks laws regulating the use of miraa and shisha, and called on Parliament to enact necessary legislation to control their consumption. Appearing before the Senate Delegated Legislation Committee during deliberations on the Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products, Duale said the Tobacco Control Bill, sponsored by Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, offers a vital opportunity to introduce such controls.

    “The Ministry of Health fully supports the Bill,” Duale said. “We have submitted our proposed amendments and urge senators to pass it.” He also revealed that “powerful individuals” had tried to pressure the ministry into approving harmful tobacco products but insisted the entire government must safeguard public health.

    Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki raised the alarm over the lack of regulations for miraa, muguka, and shisha, calling them as dangerous as tobacco. He warned that the tobacco industry would likely attempt to influence lawmakers to block the Bill.

  • 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.

  • Study: Shisha to Increase 90% at Hospitality Venues

    Study: Shisha to Increase 90% at Hospitality Venues

    The global hospitality sector is experiencing a shisha boom, with venue owners worldwide expecting demand to surge over the next two years, according to new research from AIR, a global social inhalation business.

    The study, conducted with 400 hospitality businesses in Spain, Germany, the U.S., and the UAE that offer shisha, aimed to explore future demand and trends in those growing shisha markets. The study said 90% of the businesses expect to see demand for shisha increase over the next two years, with overwhelming backing seen across all four markets.

    The research also revealed that businesses are exploring ways to meet evolving consumer expectations and gain a competitive advantage, with 87% of the venues saying they are open to introducing charcoal-free alternatives, recognizing the value of offering a cleaner, safer, and more efficient experience that aligns with the growing focus on health-conscious options. 

    “Venues that embrace cutting-edge shisha innovations are not only future-proofing their operations but also building loyalty by enhancing the overall customer experience,” Ronan Barry, chief legal and corporate affairs officer at AIR said. “By improving operational efficiency and meeting evolving expectations, these businesses are positioning themselves for long-term success in an increasingly competitive market.”

    The research also said charcoal-free shisha would reduce staff workload (28%), appeal to health-conscious consumers (27%), boost revenue (25%), and help meet regulatory requirements (25%).

  • Cigarette Plain Packaging Among Tobacco Law Changes Macau Considering 

    Cigarette Plain Packaging Among Tobacco Law Changes Macau Considering 

    The Macau government plans to amend its tobacco control law, with Health Bureau director Alvis Lo Iek Long saying that standardized “plain packaging” for cigarettes will be a key measure to reduce tobacco’s appeal to young people.

    In an interview with public broadcaster TDM, Lo confirmed authorities are speeding up preliminary work on such a measure but noted no timeline has been set due to the legislative process.

    The proposed revisions also include expanding outdoor smoking bans to areas near schools and daycare centers, mirroring existing bus stop restrictions. Authorities also plan to trial “designated smoking areas” based on international models, aiming to balance the rights of smokers and non-smokers. Additionally, the amendment seeks to prohibit the import and sale of novel tobacco products, such as Middle Eastern shisha and herbal cigarettes.

    The current law allows different management entities to designate no-smoking zones, however, Lo said officials are working on pilot programs to define “smoking points” and establish clear signage systems, though specific trial locations have yet to be finalized.