Saudi Arabia has implemented a ban on tobacco shops operating within 500 meters of mosques and schools, according to new guidelines from the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.
The measures aim to safeguard public health, ensure legal compliance, and maintain orderly business environments in urban areas.
The regulations affect all stores selling tobacco products, including cigarettes, shisha, and e-cigarettes. Shop owners must possess valid commercial registration, Civil Defense approval, and full compliance with municipal licensing laws.
Stores must occupy at least 36 square meters within commercial buildings, with additional local municipality conditions possible.
Exterior signage cannot display logos or promotional materials - only the store name. Operations require security cameras indoors and outdoors, adherence to hygiene standards, electronic payment options, and prohibited sidewalk use.
All tobacco products must meet Saudi Food and Drug Authority standards, feature clear warning labels, and be sold in sealed packages. Vending machines, price reductions, gifts, and product testing are forbidden.
Representatives of the banking and financial sector of Uzbekistan upgraded their qualifications by participating in the “Islamic Banking Window” training and practical program, organized by the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance Malaysia (ASAS), reports Dunyo IA.
Ambassador of Uzbekistan Karomiddin Gadoev, noted that on the initiative of the Head of State, large-scale reforms to introduce Islamic finance have been launched in the country, and the adoption of the relevant law this year marked a turning point in the development of this sector. He highlighted three key advantages of the Malaysian experience: the parallel functioning of conventional and Islamic banking systems under a single regulator, centralized Shariah oversight through a single board under the Central Bank and the “Islamic window” model, which allows for the launch of Islamic financial services without establishing separate banks.
Dr. Muhd Ramadhan Fitri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of “Maybank Islamic Berhad”, noted Uzbekistan's steps in this sector and expressed readiness to provide practical and technical support in establishing “Islamic windows” and financial infrastructure.
Head of ASAS, Makhtar Abdullah, remarked that the seminar participants had acquired advanced knowledge in the areas of Islamic finance instruments, Shariah governance and the organization of “Islamic windows” in commercial banks. Such programs, as noted in the publication, serve as a foundation for elevating Uzbek-Malaysian financial cooperation to a new stage.