JEDDAH: The price of a pack of cigarettes in Saudi Arabia will double when a selective tax becomes effective June 11. The move will put a financial strain on smokers, but it may not necessarily lead them to quit smoking.
“The government’s decision to impose a tax on tobacco means that soon we will have to pay double for a pack of cigarettes, but the price hike is unlikely to make longtime smokers kick the habit,” IT expert Ahmad Al-Juhaini told Arab News.
Many smokers like Al-Juhaini agree that smoking is a bad habit, yet they find themselves “helpless against the addiction,” as he puts it. “We may only reduce the number of cigarettes we smoke on a daily basis. It’s not easy to just switch brands,” he said adding that he believes that the increase in prices “will definitely deter youngsters from taking up smoking.”
Like Al-Juhaini, 24-year-old Bedour, who started smoking three years ago, said her smoking habits will not change following the price hike. She now pays SR12 for a cigarette pack and is willing to pay SR24 in two weeks. “I didn’t start smoking because it was cheap in the first place and I wouldn’t quit now because the prices have doubled,” Bedour, a lawyer, said, adding that she will continue to purchase the same brand despite the price hike.
Selective tax will be imposed at 100 percent on tobacco and 50 percent on soft and energy drinks, which are high in sugar. The General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) said that the “selection” entails health-damaging products, as well as products that are harmful for the environment and complementary goods.
According to its official website, GAZT lists health problems due to the increase in consumption of unhealthy goods and the expenses that individuals and the government bear in treating the consequences of consuming these products among the reasons why the tax is being imposed.
Other reasons are the Kingdom’s tax policy reforms agreements with the other Gulf states and the commitments to the regional and international conventions signed to control the consumption of harmful goods by adjusting taxes and banning the promotion of these products as well as prohibiting smoking in public spaces.
Cigarette pack prices in Saudi Arabia are almost mid-range compared to other countries around the world. According to Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported consumer prices, the Kingdom is 64th out of 127 countries in the price ranking of a cigarettes with a pack by one of the major brands costing around $3.20.
The Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council received on May 23 two instruments of ratification of the unified tax treaty from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), concerning value added tax (VAT) and selective tax, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported.
This makes the unified tax treaty in the GCC effective.
“The UAE is the second country to deposit two instruments of ratification to the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and as per the treaty, the submission of a second country makes activates the treaty,” SPA quoted the secretariat. The VAT will be implemented in the GCC on Jan. 1.
Smokers say Saudi price hike unlikely to make them kick habit
Smokers say Saudi price hike unlikely to make them kick habit
Local ZUMI thermos bottle has heritage-inspired design
- References Zamzam and Hajar’s search for water
- Helps to tell Kingdom’s story, says firm Teeb Made
ZUMI, a thermos bottle unveiled this month by Saudi Arabia brand Teeb Made, has a design referencing local memory, ritual and place, according to its producers.
“We believe meaningful design can influence how people live, feel, and connect,” said Abeer Alessa, CEO of The Bold Group and co-founder of Teeb Made.
“ZUMI draws from our heritage yet speaks to a global audience seeking intention and authenticity in the objects they choose.”
Developed under The Bold Group, ZUMI reflects a growing movement within Saudi Arabia’s creative sector to translate cultural narratives into tangible products.
Rather than following global design trends, the team focused on grounding the product in a story that resonates locally while remaining accessible internationally.
The name ZUMI is inspired by Hajar’s call, “Zummi, zummi,” meaning “gather, gather,” during her search for water for her son Ismail between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
That moment led to the emergence of Zamzam water, a source revered for centuries and deeply embedded in Islamic and Saudi identity. For the creators, this origin story became the philosophical core of the product.
“Culture starts with a story,” Alessa explained. “With Teeb Made, we wanted to tell our story not only through communication, but through a product you can touch, live with, and keep close to you.”
Visually, ZUMI draws inspiration from the dorag, the historical vessel used by the Zamazmah men of Makkah to serve Zamzam water to pilgrims for more than 1,400 years.
Traditionally utilitarian, the dorag carried spiritual weight through its purpose rather than ornamentation. Teeb Made reinterpreted this form into a minimal, contemporary silhouette suited for modern lifestyles.
“We wanted ZUMI to be a vessel of meaning, not just water,” said Mohamad Baalbaki, executive creative director of The Bold Group and co-founder of Teeb Made.
“Its form, its patented base, and its simplicity all serve one purpose: to create something that feels familiar, timeless, and deeply personal.”
The design process was extensive. Translating a historical silhouette into a thermos bottle required more than 18 months of research and development.
The final product received a patented design certification from the Saudi Ministry of Culture, marking a milestone in original Saudi intellectual property within product design.
One of ZUMI’s most talked-about features is that it does not stand upright. This decision was entirely intentional.
“We wanted people to carry it, not leave it on a table,” Baalbaki said. “It’s a statement piece, but more importantly, it’s a personal object that invites interaction and conversation.”
Color selection further reinforces the connection to place. The launch collection features hues inspired by Saudi landscapes, including tin (mud), forest, and matar (rain), reflecting the Kingdom’s environmental diversity and grounding the product visually in its origins.
“ZUMI is a product with a Saudi story that is scalable and built to last,” said Souad Merheb, general manager of Teeb Made. “Our vision is to create intellectual property that can live long, grow as a brand, and carry these stories to new generations without losing their meaning.”
“Teeb Made is, at its core, a product design company,” Merheb added. “Our expertise lies in design and creativity, and ZUMI is a reflection of that focus, a piece of IP developed with intention, patience, and depth.”
“There are many rich and insightful stories in Saudi Arabia that remain untapped,” Alessa said. “With ZUMI, this is just the beginning.”
Beyond the product itself, ZUMI aligns with broader national efforts to elevate Saudi culture through the creative economy.
Teeb Made has engaged with several government entities and cultural platforms that recognize the value of culturally rooted products in shaping global perceptions of the Kingdom.
“Today, every Saudi has a role in telling our story to the world,” Alessa said. “For us, it is an honor to contribute to that narrative through design.”
ZUMI also signals the beginning of a wider design ecosystem under Teeb Made, with future editions and complementary accessories already in development.
According to the team, this is only the first chapter in a larger effort to revive untapped cultural stories through modern design.
ZUMI is available at www.zumibottle.com and on Instagram @zumibottle.
