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Ageing process of population passing through demographic dividend in many of the Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, where the demographic transition process entered a progressive stage. This process has been accelerated with rapid reductions in fertility caused by various changes in the socio-economic and life style dimensions. Researches on population ageing in the country are rare and thus this analytic research aims at exploring population ageing trends at the backdrop of demographic transition to help build up demanded strategies and policies. This analysis explains a rapid native population ageing especially on absolute size: an increase in line with theoretical demographic transition process. Consequently, structural changes in age distribution accompanied a change in age pyramid from an expansive shape of the late 1990s to a constrictive shape in 2010 and further shrinking by 2016. Obviously, various age related indices—age dependency, index of ageing, and median age—exemplify this trend. Still, the old aged population remain static in terms of percentages or indices, exemplifying that the movement of age cohorts continue in the early ages shall reach old age, soon, in this decade: hence, characterizes retirement boom and multiple pathologies compressed to last years of life. Thus, this is an ideal time to prepare for challenges of ageing, learning from the experiences of nations confronted with similar demographic trends. Old aged population deserves care, concern and compassion to ‘add life to years’ with dignity and independence. Informal care mechanisms, especially families, play a vital role on this behalf, and so, deserve to be strengthened and empowered through welfare measures, rather than turning to improving formal care system.

Background Saudi Arabia is one of the countries seriously affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. With a few cases in early March, the daily spread of this disease increased to nearly 5000 at one point in time during the first wave to mid-June 2020. With committed efforts and public health interventions, it has been controlled to nearly 1000 by the end of August 2020 and less than 217 by November 28, 2020; thereafter, reporting declines and small increases. However, by December 2021, a third wave started, lasting for 2 months, during which the infection rate increased rapidly. By April 1, 2022, the number of infected persons in the country was 750,998, with 9047 deaths, 7131 active, and approximately 400 critical cases. This analysis of COVID-19 statistics of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia (March 2020–April 2022) is carried out along with population data to extract patient proportions per 100,000 persons to illustrate the hypothesized social and community impact, which influences families and households. Results The results showed a high rate of infection and mortality, but with recovery. These rates varied across localities and cities. A few cities with higher population densities are less affected by the spread of the epidemic. However, few localities and upcoming cities/townships were severely affected. These effects are explained as the percentage of the population affected, which exposes the impact on societies, families, and individual members. With concerted efforts, they are brought under control through recovery and adopting mitigation methods. Conclusions Localities could be classified into four categories based on the proportion of the infected population: rapidly increasing, moderately increasing, declining, and stabilizing. Moreover, differential proportions of the affected population have implications at social and familial levels. Analysis and understanding of these trends, considering the base population, are important for policy building and intervention strategies accounting for grassroots-level demographics, which might serve as a tool to enhance interventions at population and family levels. Strategies for awareness creation and compassionate care are essential to address the psychosocial impact of health emergencies, as proved by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.

Satisfaction is a personal feeling stemming from various factors including past and present experiences and expectations fostered by living arrangements and relationship networks. This study aims at investigating Saudi Arabian retiree satisfaction using a sample drawn from five administrative areas representing planning regions. The specific objectives of this study, which investigates the influence of previous employment on life after retirement, are to assess satisfaction levels and their variations and identify explanatory variables. A random sample of 2341 retirees was selected from a sampling frame and analyzed using the linear regression model in order to extract predictors, namely demographic, geographic, social, economic, and health. The results demonstrate that economic variables have a stronger explanatory value than others. In addition, the area of residence, problems of family and leisure time, charitable activities, and self-assessed health have significant explanatory value, although with differences between males and females. The results clearly imply the need for a wise and smooth transition to retirement through planning and involvement in various sports and voluntary activities.

Home ownership has implications for a family’s empowerment and quality of life, especially post-retirement. Economic conditions, the cost of living, and child-rearing create barriers to accumulating immovable assets, including the home. This study identifies the determinants of home ownership among retirees—geographic, demographic, social and economic variables—and explains the effect using data drawn from five administrative areas in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Madina, Eastern, Jazan, and Jouf) representing planning regions (Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central). A large proportion of retirees (82%) own a home (purchased before or after retirement), with regional differences. Retirees from Jouf and Jazan have higher ownership rates than their counterparts in Riyadh, Madina, or Eastern, with rates affected by geographic, demographic, social, and economic factors. As determinants, geographic and demographic factors have major roles while economic factors play a typical role in decision-making. A mix of higher education, professional employment, longer duration of employment and higher salaries, when combined with locational preferences and family requirements, motivate or enable home ownership. Retiree home-ownership is important to dignified post-retirement (old-age) life, and so measures and policies may be strengthened to empower people to own homes during their working life.

The Arab World, composed of 22 member states of the Arab League, under- goes a rapid transition in demographic front in terms of fertility, mortality, and migration. It is a distinctive geographic region that extends across the Western Asia and North East Africa, united by Arabic language, and that shares common values and characteristics, despite the diversity in economic and political conditions. The demographic lag that characterizes the Arab World is unique, but the present trend of declining fertility com- bined with the existing relatively low mortality exerts pressures on age structures, thereby influencing an ageing population phenomena. The current research aimed to (1) explore changes in age structure over a period of 3 decades and (2) assess the ageing situation. Based on the International Data Base (IDB) of US Census Bureau, for 3 periods—1992, 2002, and 2012, 21 countries of the Arab World (Palestine excluded because data were not available) were analyzed by dividing them into four geographic sectors: Gulf Cooperation Council, West Asia, Maghreb, and Nile Valley African Horn. Changing age structures with decreasing young cohorts accompanied by increasing adult cohorts constrict and influence the age pyramids. The ageing scenario, further revealed through child-woman ratio, aged- child ratio, median age, and age-dependency ratio indicates changes with differences across sectors. Changes in age structures and ageing in the Arab World can be delineated into four geographic sectors. Population growth influences the age structure in line with the increasing proportion of adolescents and youths but a decreasing proportion of children, leading to ageing of the population.