Half of adults in Saudi Arabia exposed to secondhand smoke, study finds

A recent study involving more than 10,000 adults from across Saudi Arabia has revealed that around 50% of participants have been exposed to secondhand smoke. The home was identified as the primary setting for exposure, accounting for 57.1%, highlighting the risk that smoking poses to non-smokers within the family environment, especially children, women, and the elderly.

The Kafa Society emphasized that the study, published in the journal "BMJ Open" in 2026, underscores the need to intensify awareness programs about the dangers of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke and to raise public awareness about protecting family members from secondhand smoke.

Ibrahim bin Ahmed Al-Hamdan, Director General of the Kafa Society, stated that the study's findings reveal the far-reaching harm of smoking, which affects not only smokers but also those around them. He stressed that children, women, pregnant women, and the elderly are groups that require greater protection and education regarding the risks of tobacco smoke exposure.

He noted that the study, which included 10,082 adults and collected data from March 2023 to January 2024, showed that 50% of participants had been exposed to secondhand smoke. The home was the leading place of exposure at 57.1%, followed by workplaces, and then cafes and coffee or tea shops, each at 16.2%.

Al-Hamdan said: "It is distressing that the home is the most common place for secondhand smoke exposure. The home should be a safe haven for families, but it can become a source of danger due to smoking indoors, without considering the harm it may cause to children, the elderly, women, and non-smokers."

He explained that cigarettes and shisha together were the most common sources of secondhand smoke exposure at 42%, while cigarettes alone accounted for 27.4%. About 74% of those exposed expressed dissatisfaction with their exposure to tobacco smoke. The study also revealed a gap in public awareness, as only 56% of participants were aware of the health risks of secondhand smoke, while 86.5% supported stricter laws to limit smoking in public places.

Al-Hamdan stressed that these findings provide valuable material for use in awareness programs and activities. He noted that messages based on reliable studies and statistics help clarify the scale of the problem and promote preventive behaviors in society. He emphasized that protecting families from secondhand smoke starts with a smoke-free home, urging smokers to recognize that tobacco smoke affects not only themselves, and that smoking indoors can expose family members to health risks they did not choose.