The Tobacco Control Center’s 2019 survey revealed that 25.2% of adults in Qatar use tobacco products, with shisha ranking as the second most common form at 8.3%. 

In a major step toward combating the rise in shisha smoking, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Center – World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Saturday announced the launch of the first clinical study of its kind in Qatar and the region. 

This initiative aligns with Qatar’s national efforts to prevent tobacco use and promote healthier lifestyles across the country.

Qatar’s tobacco control law No. 10 of 2016 bans tobacco advertising and sponsorship, mandates graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging, prohibits e-cigarette sales, and restricts tobacco sales near schools.

Conducted in collaboration with the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, the study aims to evaluate the most effective methods for helping individuals quit shisha smoking. 

Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Al Mulla, Director of the Tobacco Control Center, said in the HMC news release: “Despite Qatar’s strict tobacco control laws, such as Law No. 10 of 2016, and ongoing awareness campaigns, many people continue to believe that shisha is less harmful than cigarettes.”

But scientific evidence proves otherwise, according to Dr. Al Mulla. “Shisha smoking exposes users to high levels of nicotine and toxic substances, often exceeding those of a single cigarette in just one session.”

A 2019 survey by The Tobacco Control Center’s revealed that 25.2% of adults in Qatar use tobacco products, with shisha ranking as the second most common form at 8.3%. These findings underscored the need for targeted clinical interventions, according to the news release announcing the study.

Dr. Al Mulla also said that withdrawal symptoms experienced by shisha users during cessation mirror those of cigarette smokers. “The addictive nature of shisha tends to increase over time, making quitting very difficult,” he added.

The clinical study specifically targets citizens and residents of Qatar aged 18 and above who are regular shisha users. To ensure broad participation, the research team is actively recruiting participants through field visits to government offices, hospitals, universities, and primary healthcare centres.

The Tobacco Control Center has long been at the forefront of national efforts to reduce tobacco use, aligning with the broader goals of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

WHO FCTC, which the World Health Assembly adopted in 2003 and enforced in 2005, is the first WHO-negotiated treaty and one of the most widely embraced in United Nations history.

Qatar was the first country in both the Gulf Cooperation Council and within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to ratify the WHO FCTC in July 2004.