Less Puffs, Same Risks: UAE Doctors Warn Cutting Down On Cigarettes Isn't Safer

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

'I haven't quit smoking, but I just don't smoke like before.' This is a sentence that doctors, people who work at cigarette shops, and even former smokers said they are hearing more often in the UAE.

Many smokers in the UAE said that their habits have changed. Some have cut down from a pack a day to a few cigarettes. Others said that they now smoke only occasionally, when feeling stressed or at social occasions. And many are trying smoke-free options as part of their effort to move away from cigarettes.

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It has been about six months since nicotine pouches became legally available for sale in the UAE. While it is still early, residents said that the availability is helping them quit slowly and rethink daily smoking.

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Breaking the routine

Akram Bayaath, a sales manager at a real estate brokerage firm, said that the change began with a simple decision to quit for one day.“I was smoking close to a pack a day for almost 12 years,” said the 38-year-old sales professional.“Quitting felt impossible. So this time I told myself, just don't smoke today.”

To manage cravings, Akram turned to nicotine patches in September last year.“The biggest change was breaking the routine. Not stepping out for a cigarette every few hours made a huge difference.”

After four months, he stopped using nicotine patches as well. Now, he has been smoke and nicotine-free for four months.“Now, breathing feels better. I don't wake up coughing. And I don't plan my day around smoking anymore.”

Some residents told Khaleej Times that they have not quit completely, however, they have cut down on smoking after using nicotine patches for cravings.

Joseph K, a 35-year-old supervisor at an interior decoration firm, said that he still smokes, but far less than before.“I used to smoke 15 to 20 cigarettes a day. It used to be like 2 cigarettes every hour. Now it's three or four a day, and at times even less.”

Joseph uses nicotine patches during work hours to avoid smoking.“I won't say I have quit. But I don't smoke like before. Earlier, I would light up without thinking.”

Behind the counter

At shops that sell smoking products, the change is visible too.

In Al Tadbeer, Sharjah, a salesperson said buying habits have shifted over the past few months.“Earlier, many customers would buy four or five cigarette packs at one time. Some of them also turned to vapes, taking a step to avoid smoking,” he said.

“Now, the same people don't buy cigarettes or vapes at all. They ask for nicotine patches or other smoke-free options instead.”

He added that several regular customers now visit less often.“Before, we would see them every few days. Now some come once in two or three weeks. They tell us they are smoking very little or trying to quit.”

A salesperson at a smoking shop in Al Mamzar also noticed the change.“There were customers who used to buy five packs at once. Now they come and say they don't need cigarettes anymore. Some say they only smoke once in a while now.”

Doctors weigh in

Doctors said that these stories reflect a bigger picture, but also come with important cautions.

Dr. Raiza Hameed, a specialist in pulmonology at Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai, said she often sees smokers cutting down with the intention of quitting.“Some move to alternatives to reduce cigarette use. But nicotine exposure and health risks still continue.”

She also mentioned that many smokers believe smoking less makes them safe.“Even smoking a few cigarettes a day carries a high risk for heart and lung disease,” she said, adding that some smokers inhale more deeply when they cut down, which reduces the benefit.

Dr. Marwa Mohamed , a specialist in family medicine and head of department at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, said that many patients have talked about quitting cigarettes or reducing smoking.“They tell us, 'Doctor, I don't smoke like before.' Cutting down feels achievable, especially during stressful phases of life,” said Dr. Marwa.

However, she warned that occasional smoking still affects the heart and lungs.“The body does not reset just because smoking happens less often,” she said.“The real health improvement comes when smoking stops completely.”

The Swedish example

To understand what long-term change can look like, experts often point to Sweden, a country that has seen smoking rates fall dramatically over time.

According to Dr. Amer Haneef , a clinical cardiologist practising in Sweden, smoking reduction there happened over the years, not overnight.“In Sweden, once people moved away from daily smoking, reductions in daily smokers became visible within years,” he said.“Population health improvements followed more gradually.”

Official data shows daily smoking in Sweden has fallen to around 5.4 per cent, among the lowest in Europe, compared to an EU average of about 23 per cent. In the 1970s, nearly half of Swedish men were daily smokers. Today, smoking rates are far lower, and smoking-related diseases have declined at the population level.

Dr. Haneef mentioned that strong tobacco control, trusted alternatives, and public awareness worked together.“When those elements aligned, smoking rates began to fall within years and not generations,” he said.

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