Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation and chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), issued the ban. Airports across the Kingdom were asked to implement it starting Dul Hijjah 1 (Nov. 7).

“The airport has been working with the Ministry of interior to get people’s data. Through recorded data, we can recognize smokers and inform them by SMS,” said GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibari.

To make people aware of the ban, GACA launched an awareness campaign in cooperation with travel agencies and government offices. “We used loudspeakers to announce the ban many times in different languages, in addition to distributing brochures for airport visitors and staff. Pilgrims who have no idea about the decision will be allowed to continue their journey without paying fines, but they could be stopped in the future,” said Al-Khaibari.

Serafi Mega Mall has implemented a similar smoking ban at its premises in Jeddah. Anas Al-Serafi, director of Serafi Mega Mall, banned smoking inside the mall as of Sunday. “This decision is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. Our aim is to create a healthy, clean and smoke-free environment at the mall,” said Al-Serafi.

“The management at the mall has been asked to implement the ban starting Sunday. All customers and staff will be forced to stop smoking inside the mall’s cafes, shops and play areas,” he added.

Al-Serafi said the ban will be welcomed by visitors to the mall. “We cannot issue fines, but smokers will be asked to stop smoking or forced to leave the mall. Posters and signs will be on display at the mall to warn people,” he said.

He also said the new rule might lead to a decrease in visitors. “The rule will be implemented stringently. Saudis abide by this rule while traveling abroad. Smoking is banned in malls in Europe and other Arab countries such as Bahrain, the UAE and Syria,” he said.

“The mall holds a number of healthy campaigns and social exhibitions to encourage moral behavior. As a result, it has become the duty of the mall’s management to ensure a healthy and safe environment for visitors,” said Al-Serafi.

Abdullah Sultan, assistant general manger of IN10SO, a popular car racing and entertainment center at Serafi Mega Mall, said he expects difficulties in light of the decision.

“This decision is considered a good step but this can affect us negatively. Most of our customers are youth who are used to smoking. It is not only the youth who smoke, but families too. They will not accept it lightly,” said Sultan.

“We should ban smoking gradually. We should, as a first step, have a separate area for people who smoke and keep the rest smoke free. The rate of smokers at the mall is very high with over 80 percent smoking. Forcing the customers to stop smoking would lead to a decrease in visitors,” he added.