Saudi Arabia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- absolute monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- Sharia applies; a fundamental law establishing the rights and responsibilities of the government was introduced in 1992
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Sharia law but some secular norms have been introduced
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- Advisory Council, appointed by the king for 4 years
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Council of Justice
RELIGIONS
100% Muslims
From the country
- JANUARY 4, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Two Saudi executed for murder
4 January 2018: two Saudi citizens, Hazam bin Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Qahtani and Saad bin Salem bin Saad al-Azizi al-Mutairi, were beheaded for murder.
- JANUARY 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Saudi executed for drug
3 January 2018: Ead bin Dweehe al-Atwi, a Saudi citizen, was beheaded for smuggling a large quantity of banned amphetamine pills, in Tabook
- JANUARY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
First execution of the year
1 January 2018: Hashem bin Adnan al-Khadrawe, a Saudi citizen, was beheaded for murder in the Eastern Province of the country.
NOVEMBER 28, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 7 EXECUTED FOR MURDER, DRUGS OFFENCES
Saudi Arabia executed six Yemeni men convicted of murder and robbery and a Saudi man for smuggling drugs, the interior ministry said.
- NOVEMBER 23, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
ANTI-TERROR STATES ADD 2 ENTITIES, 11 INDIVIDUALS TO TERRORIST BLACKLIST
The Anti-Terror Quartet (ATQ); Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, added two entities and 11 individuals to its blacklist.
NOVEMBER 6, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: NEW ANTI-TERROR LAWS INCLUDE DEATH PENALTY
The new laws state that individuals defaming and publicly insulting the King and the Crown Prince will be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.
OCTOBER 14, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO INDONESIANS GRANTED PARDON
The Indonesian government has managed to successfully secure the release of two Indonesians on death row in Saudi Arabia and repatriated them on October 14.
OCTOBER 1, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI ‘DRUG TRAFFICKER’ AMONG SIX BEHEADED
The Saudi Arabia government executed six people, including a Pakistani citizen, convicted of drug trafficking and homicide, the highest number of executions in a single day this year.
- JULY 27, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TARGETING SECURITY MEN, CIVILIANS IN QATIF
The Supreme Judicial Council issued an initial death sentence in the case of a Saudi who has targeted security men and civilians in Qatif, east of the kingdom, through shooting them while performing their duties.
- JULY 11, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES PRISONER CONVICTED OF PROTEST
The Saudi authorities have executed four men who were convicted in a secret ‘terrorism’ court – including at
JULY 10, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SIX EXECUTED, INCLUDING A PAKISTANI
Six people convicted of drug trafficking and homicide were executed in Saudi Arabia, the government said, the highest number of executions in a single day this year.