Ban to be implemented from Monday in the kingdom, which is the world's fourth largest importer of tobacco

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping centres.

The ban includes smoking of water-pipes (or shishas), and prohibits selling tobacco to those under the age of 18.

The official SPA news agency reports that the interior minister, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, has ordered that a royal ban on smoking be implemented from Monday, saying Islam urges the preservation of public health.

The ban is a significant step up in the kingdom's campaign to curb smoking. It banned smoking in its airports last year.

Saudi statistics say the country is the world's fourth largest importer of tobacco and that 6 million Saudis spend about 30m riyals (about £5m) a day on cigarettes.