Saudi Arabia: 700,000 people to quit smoking by the end of 2025
In a move that reflects the success of national health strategies and their alignment with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, “Badail,” a Public Investment Fund company and manufacturer of the “DZRT” product, announced an unprecedented achievement in the field of public health, as the number of people who quit smoking traditional cigarettes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached 700,000 by the end of 2025.
Context of health transformation and quality of life
This announcement comes as the culmination of the Kingdom's tireless efforts within the framework of the "Quality of Life Program," one of the key programs of Vision 2030, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the prevalence of chronic smoking-related diseases. Combating smoking is a fundamental pillar of global and local health strategies, given the enormous costs incurred by healthcare systems in treating smoking-related illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses.
Alternatives plays a pivotal role in this context by providing innovative solutions to reduce risks. The Desert product (tobacco-free nicotine envelopes) represents a transitional option that helps adult smokers move away from combustible tobacco, reflecting a national commitment to providing less harmful alternatives that contribute to a tangible reduction in smoking rates.
Figures reflect a sustainable behavioral change
The significance of this achievement lies not only in the total number of people who quit, but also in the profound health impact. The company revealed that approximately 200,000 of these quitters were subsequently able to completely stop using nicotine in all its forms, including Desert packets. This figure indicates the product's success in fulfilling its function as a temporary transitional tool, not merely a permanent replacement, thus laying the foundation for long-term behavioral change and complete liberation from nicotine dependence.
The data shows a significant acceleration in the rate of cessation, with the number jumping from 400,000 people in January 2025 to 700,000 by the end of the same year. This rapid growth reflects increased public awareness of the dangers of traditional smoking and growing confidence in alternatives manufactured according to high-quality and responsible standards.
Future vision and economic impact
Commenting on this achievement, Tolga Sezer, CEO of Alternatives, explained that the core of the company's founding lies not in commercial promotion, but in enabling real change in the lives of smokers. He emphasized that the fact that 200,000 people have reached full nicotine recovery is the strongest evidence of the success of this vision.
Based on this positive momentum, “Al-Badeel” renewed its ambition to support one million people quitting smoking in the Kingdom by 2028. This transformation is expected to have wide-ranging positive effects, not only on public health, but also on the economic side by reducing the treatment bill for smoking-related diseases, boosting productivity, as well as localizing the tobacco-free alternatives industry as part of diversifying the national economy.
