Dubai (Jebel Ali), United Arab EmiratesSmoking policy at Dubai (Jebel Ali), Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking outside designated areas is strictly prohibited under UAE Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control and can result in fines. Vaping is only permitted inside enclosed smoking rooms, not in general terminal areas. Some traveler-reported locations (e.g., Gate B11/B12, Gate C13) may have changed since originally reported; always follow in-terminal signage.
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), also called Dubai World Central, is a smoker-friendly airport by global standards. Designated smoking areas exist both before and after security, and the UAE's federal framework actually requires airports to provide them. The terminal is currently compact compared to the mega-hub it is planned to become, so facilities are more basic than at Dubai International (DXB), but they are functional and free to use.
Before Security
Landside smoking is restricted to designated outdoor areas outside the terminal building. You cannot smoke inside the terminal before clearing security. Head outside through the main entrance doors and look for marked smoking zones on the kerbside.
After Security
Once you are airside, designated smoking areas are available in each of the three terminals:
Terminal 1: Smoking area at Gate D12, upper level.
Terminal 2: Smoking area located near the departure area (exact gate not specified in official information).
Terminal 3: Smoking areas at Gates A2, A23, B7, B27, C9, and C23. A traveler reported in November 2022 that there is also a smoking room near Gate C13 with charging points available. An earlier report from April 2019 noted a smoking cabin at Gate B11/B12, and a 2017 report confirmed a cabin near Gates 6/8.
The airside rooms are described as enclosed and air-conditioned, consistent with the UAE airport standard of ventilated indoor smoking facilities near departure gates.
Vaping Rules
Vaping and e-cigarettes have been legal in the UAE since April 2019 under federal regulation. At DWC, as at all UAE airports, vaping is permitted only inside the designated smoking rooms and not in the general terminal areas. Do not vape at the gate or in the concourse.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through DWC, the airside smoking rooms mean you do not need to exit the secure zone to smoke during your layover. The Terminal 3 options at Gates A2, A23, B7, B27, C9, and C23 give transit passengers the most choices.
Bottom Line
DWC offers free, air-conditioned smoking rooms after security across all three terminals, with outdoor-only options landside. It is a straightforward airport for smokers, though facilities are more limited than at the larger DXB.
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