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
- 1,878
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 1,878 news items on Saudi Arabia, from 1999 to today.
In Saudi Arabia the death penalty applies to murder, drug offences, terrorism and certain offences under sharia law. The usual method is beheading, in some cases carried out in public. Executions are often announced in groups by the official press agency and a significant share of them involve foreign nationals.
The system of diya, the compensation a victim's family may accept in place of an execution, leaves some sentences reversible until the last moment. The archive gathers official announcements, individual cases and the campaigns to stop them.
Latest news
JULY 17, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSeven executed in Saudi Arabia
July 17, 2018: statement by Interior Ministry
JULY 17, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI 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 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 12, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Somali citizen beheaded in Geddah
12 July 2018: Ahmad Abdi executed for murder
- 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
- JULY 4, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Medina
4 July 2018: Salman al-Saaedi executed for murder
JULY 4, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIAN FREED FROM DEATH PENALTY IN SAUDI RETURNS TO INDONESIA
Nurkoyah Marsan Dasan, an Indonesian female worker from Rengasdengklok, Karawang, West Java Province, awarded death penalty by the Saudi Court for the death of the child of her employer, was released and finally returned to Indonesia.
- JULY 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Isha
3 July 2018: Ahmad bin Yaakoob executed for murder
- JULY 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerian citizen beheaded in Medina
3 July 2018: Abo Doromi Aweeda executed for cocaine smuggle
- JULY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Indian citizen beheaded in Mecca
1 July 2018: Askhar Anwar Sek executed for murder
- JUNE 28, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Yemeni citizen beheaded in Rivadeh
28 June 2018: Tarsh Saleh executed for murder
- JUNE 26, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN EXECUTED FOR BURNING FATHER WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING
The Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia just issued a press statement, indicating that the man who burned his father alive has been executed.
- JUNE 25, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Asir
25 June 2018: Abed allah al-Beeshe executed for murder
- JUNE 8, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH SENTENCE OVERTURNED FOR NURKOYAH
AN INDONESIAN WOMAN
JUNE 7, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. SLEEPER TERROR CELL BUSTED
LINKED TO IRAN
- MAY 14, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Khamis Msheet
14 May 2018: Hadi bin Hassan al-Msheekhi executed for murder
- MAY 13, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN EXECUTED FOR ATTACKS ON BANKS
Saudi Arabia executed a Saudi man over armed attacks on banks in the Red Sea city of Jeddah 16 years ago.
- MAY 13, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded 16 years after crime
13 May 2018: Jameel Bin Mohammad Al Aseeri executed over armed attacks on banks
- MAY 13, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Geddah
13 May 2018: Gamil Asiri executed for armed robbery
- MAY 10, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Medina
10 May 2018: Mazen Haneefa executed for murder
- MAY 9, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Indonesian maid pardoned for baby’s murder hosts parents
9 May 2018: Masamah binti Raswa Sanusi receives parents in Indonesia
- MAY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Two Saudi citizens beheaded in Rivadeh
1 May 2018: double execution for murder
- APRIL 18, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Medina
18 April 2018: Mohammad al-Gehni executed for murder
- APRIL 16, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani citizen beheaded in Mecca
16 April 2018: Shamas Rayhan executed for heroin smuggle
- APRIL 10, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi citizen beheaded in Breeda
10 April 2018: Saeed bin Ahmad executed for rape
- APRIL 10, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerian citizen beheaded in Madina
10 April 2018: Eado Bayo Zakariyah executed for cocaine smuggle