BEIRUT (Xinhua) – The Arab region is witnessing a fast-paced aging transition, which leaves a tight window for countries to address the needs and priorities of older persons, said the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in a statement released on Wednesday. “With an aging population in the Arab region, older persons are becoming a population group that requires special attention, policies, and actions,” ESCWA Deputy Executive Secretary Mounir Tabet said, adding the number of older persons in the Arab region is expected to exceed 71 million by 2050.