Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Kuwait? (Banned From January 2027)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 23, 2026

No. From January 1, 2027, nicotine pouches can’t be sold legally in Kuwait. Ministerial Resolution No. 237 of 2026 was signed by Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi on August 12, 2026. It bans importing, making, distributing, selling, displaying, advertising and storing for sale “nicotine pouches and oral or mucosal nicotine products not registered as a medicine”. The resolution takes effect on January 1, 2027. It also raises the minimum age for every tobacco and nicotine product to 21.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check official sources before you buy or travel.

What does Resolution No. 237 of 2026 say about nicotine pouches?

Article 2 says the resolution covers all tobacco and nicotine products, and it names nicotine pouches and oral or smokeless tobacco products explicitly. Article 3 then lists the banned products. Its first item reads:

“Nicotine pouches and oral or mucosal nicotine products not registered as a medicine.”

For these products, the ban covers import, manufacture, packing, repacking, distribution, trading, sale, display, storage for sale, advertising and promotion.

The only way out is registration as a medicine. The resolution doesn’t apply to pharmaceutical products licensed by the Ministry of Health as smoking-cessation treatments, such as nicotine gum or lozenges. Ordinary consumer pouch brands are not registered that way.

When does the ban start?

Article 11 says the resolution applies from January 1, 2027. The minister signed it on August 12, 2026, and regional media reported it on August 16, 2026. Until the start date, the new rules don’t apply yet.

What else changes in 2027?

The resolution sets wider rules for all tobacco and nicotine products that remain legal, such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco:

• Minimum age 21: sellers must check the buyer’s civil ID and display a sign in Arabic and English.
• No online or delivery sales: sales through websites, apps, social media and delivery services are banned.
• Fewer places to buy: no sales in grocery stores, mobile carts, temporary kiosks, exhibitions, vending machines, or within 200 meters of schools.
• Registration: every product needs Ministry of Health registration and must disclose its ingredients and nicotine concentration.
• Health warnings: text and picture warnings must cover at least 50% of the main display area.
• No promotion: advertising, influencer marketing, free samples, gifts and discounts are all banned.

Can you bring nicotine pouches into Kuwait?

From January 2027, we’d advise against it. The ban covers import, and it doesn’t make an exception for small amounts for personal use. Customs authorities are named as part of enforcement. The resolution doesn’t explicitly ban using or possessing pouches for personal use. Still, bringing them in risks confiscation. See our travel guide.

What are the penalties?

The resolution doesn’t set its own fines. Article 10 says violators face the penalties set by the relevant laws and regulations. The Ministry of Health enforces it together with other authorities, including the Environment Public Authority, the environmental police and the General Administration of Customs. These authorities can seize and remove banned products and block online ads.

How Kuwait compares

Kuwait is taking a much stricter path than its Gulf neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, which has allowed pouches since July 2025 if they meet a national standard. Kuwait’s approach is closer to France and Moldova, which have banned pouches outright. Like Japan, Kuwait leaves only a medicine route open, and no consumer pouch is on it.

Bottom line

From January 1, 2027, nicotine pouches are banned in Kuwait unless they are registered as a medicine. That covers import, sale, distribution, display and advertising. Kuwait is also raising the age for all other nicotine products to 21 and banning online sales. See our list of countries where pouches are banned and our legal status overview.