JobXDubai

The global shisha business is growing, expected to reach a worth of $22 billion by 2026, despite a noticeable decline in cigarette use. According to recent surveys, cigarette usage has decreased by 21% over the past year in the USA, Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq. Instead, people are increasingly choosing to smoke alternative products. This change is evident in the shisha domain, where there are now 20.8 million users, a gain of 18.5% in new fans in 2023 alone.

The sector is expected to reach 24.6 million users by 2024, representing an 18.27% rise, thanks to the growing interest in shisha. By 2026, expectations are expected to soar to 32.3 million users, a 55.28% increase. Within the next three years, the $19 billion worldwide shisha industry is expected to grow to $22 billion in value.

The need for creative and healthier smoking alternatives is what’s causing this boom. This trend is best shown by AIR Global’s OOKA, the innovative shisha gadget that uses pods instead of charcoal. Since its launch in 2023, OOKA has completely changed the industry by removing carbon monoxide and decreasing dangerous chemicals by 94%, offering a safer solution for both the environment and consumers. When the gadget was first introduced in the UAE, the first batch of stock sold out in less than a month, demonstrating the strong demand from consumers for safer and more sustainable smoking options.

According to Ronan Barry of AIR Global, the rising appeal of shisha may be attributed to two factors: a growing consumer focus on eco-friendly options and a shared desire for more hygienic and social smoking experiences. This change places shisha as a top choice and represents a larger trend in the worldwide smoking industry towards ecologically friendly and health-conscious options.