OBJECTIVES: Graphic health warnings (GHWs) on cigarette packages have been found to be significantly associated with increased awareness of smoking-related health hazards as well as behavior change. Legislations on GHWs have recently been endorsed and GHWs have now been introduced in Qatar. This study aims to evaluate the general public’s awareness, beliefs and perceptions on anti-tobacco GHW labels on cigarette packs prior to the introduction of the new law. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a pretested 23-item questionnaire was conducted among randomly approached adults in Qatar. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS® version 19. Responses were analyzed by smoking status (ever-smokers vs. never-smokers) to ascertain how these two distinct groups differed in their awareness and perceptions related to health warning messages. The demographic characteristics and other outcomes of interest were compared using χ2 or Fishers Exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 500 participants (59% male)  responded to the survey. Most notably, ever-smokers did not significantly differ from never-smokers on awareness of GHW. About one-third of the respondents had no idea about any specific text warning messages on tobacco products sold and nearly 45% of them did not know what a GHW was. Furthermore, a substantial proportion (more than 20%)  of the respondents in both groups did not believe that introducing GHWs will enhance smoking behavior change. Non-smokers generally tended to have more positive attitudes than smokers toward the perceived impact of GHWs (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of the general  public in Qatar had poor awareness about GHWs. This study has important implications on the needs to increase awareness about the value of GHWs as well as calls for further research to determine the effectiveness of GHW labels on cigarette packages in Qatar and the greater Middle Eastern region, where legislations on GHWs are still at infancy.