Saudi Arabia
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 9
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 41
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Executions are carried out in public with a sword
- News items in the archive
- 1,841
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Saudi Arabia is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 9 executions in the country, against 41 the year before. The archive holds 1,841 news items on Saudi Arabia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Egyptian citizen beheaded in Riyad
6 September 2018: Mohamed Radwan Ahmed Yassin executed for murder
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Egyptian national beheaded in Asir
5 September 2018: Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Halim executed for murder
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING MAN IN ASIR
A Saudi national was executed in the kingdom for shooting and killing a man in the region of Asir, the kingdom’s interior ministry announced.
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Abha
3 September 2018: Gibran bin Salem bin Joueid al-Qahtani executed for murder
- AUGUST 15, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Two Saudi citizens beheaded in Rivadeh
15 August 2018: Abed allah al-Qahtani and Turki al-Qahtani executed for murder
- AUGUST 13, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Tae
13 August 2018: Sael bin Hilal al-Harthi executed for murder
- AUGUST 8, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA CARRIES OUT RARE CRUCIFIXION FOR MURDER, THEFT
Saudi Arabia executed and crucified a Myanmar man in the holy city of Mecca in a rare form of punishment reserved for the most egregious crimes.
- AUGUST 8, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Myanmar national crucified in Mecca
8 August 2018: Elias Abulkalaam Jamaleddeen executed
- AUGUST 7, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SMUGGLING WEAPONS TO TARGET SECURITY IN QATIF
The Saudi Specialized Criminal Court sentenced a Saudi national to death for receiving funds and weapons smuggled by sea from abroad.
- AUGUST 6, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Rivadeh
6 August 2018: Mohamamd bin Ibrahim al-Farhan executed for murder
AUGUST 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: YEMENI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TARGETING MILITARY FACILITIES
The Saudi judiciary issued a preliminary ruling for a death sentence against a resident of Yemeni nationality, on charges of attacking vital and military sites and facilities.
- AUGUST 2, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani national beheaded in Rivadeh
2 August 2018: Beer Zada Mal Zada executed for heroin smuggle
- AUGUST 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Tabook
1 August 2018: Salim al-Amrani executed for drugs smuggle
- JULY 31, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Ethiopian citizen beheaded in Jazan
31 July 2018: Soltan Soliman Redaah executed for drugs smuggle
- JULY 30, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Mecca
30 July 2018: Hashim al-Zahrani executed for murder
- JULY 29, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Geddah
29 July 2018: Hadi al-Dgheere executed for murder
- JULY 26, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani citizen beheaded in Rivadeh
26 July 2018: Shahzad Neem Khan executed for heroin smuggle
- JULY 25, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Rivadeh
25 July 2018: Hadra bin Hamad executed for murder
- JULY 22, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani national beheaded in Geddah
22 July 2018: Safeer Ahmad Safeer executed for heroin smuggle
- JULY 22, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Rivadeh
22 July 2018: Naser Bin Nafat executed for murder
- JULY 19, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Ethiopian woman beheaded in Geddah
19 July 2018: Easheeto Mohamamd executed for murder
- JULY 17, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES 7, INCLUDING 5 FOR KILLING PAKISTANI
Saudi Arabia executed seven people convicted of criminal offenses, including five men for the robbery and murder of a Pakistani warehouse guard in the western city of Jiddah.
- JULY 17, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Seven executed in Saudi Arabia
July 17, 2018: statement by Interior Ministry
- JULY 12, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Somali citizen beheaded in Geddah
12 July 2018: Ahmad Abdi executed for murder
JULY 12, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO TERRORISTS HANDED DEATH, ANOTHER GETS 23 YEARS IN JAIL
The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh passed a preliminary verdict sentencing two Saudi nationals to death after they were convicted of forming a terror cell, killing security men and inciting disorder.
- JULY 11, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Geddah
11 July 2018: Mohammad al-Zahrani executed for murder of his wife
- JULY 10, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerian citizen beheaded in Medina
10 July 2018: Bodeen Obeelo Amison executed for cocaine smuggle
- JULY 9, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani citizen beheaded in Geddah
9 July 2018: Abed all-Teef Mohammad executed for heroin smuggle
- JULY 8, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Medina
8 July 2018: Madeen bin Hamed al-Kfari executed for the murder of a child
- JULY 5, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Two Pakistani nationals crucified at public park in Rivadeh
5 July 2018: Adam Khan Iyas Khan and Asad Mohammed Yousef Khan executed