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
MARCH 23, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN EXECUTED FOR KILLING A COMPATRIOT
The kingdom executed a Saudi national convicted of murdering a compatriot in the province of AlQassim,
MARCH 16, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI PUT TO DEATH FOR MURDER IN 73RD EXECUTION
A Saudi national convicted of murder was executed, bringing to 73 the number of people put to death in the
- MARCH 13, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MURDERER PUT TO DEATH IN 72ND EXECUTION OF 2016
Saudi Arabia executed one of its nationals convicted of murder, bringing to 72 the number of people put to
MARCH 8, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: CITIZEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed one of its nationals convicted of drug trafficking, bringing to 71 the number of locals
- MARCH 6, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 70TH CONVICT EXECUTED THIS YEAR
Saudi Arabia executed a citizen convicted of murder, bringing the number of people it has put to death this year to 70.
MARCH 1, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 5 EXECUTED AS TOLL HITS 69
A Qatari and a Jordanian were among five people executed in Saudi Arabia, bringing to 69 the number of people it has put to death this year.
- FEBRUARY 23, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI KIDNAPPER EXECUTED
A Saudi who kidnapped and tried to rape his employer was put to death in the kingdom’s 64th execution of the year.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: THREE CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens and two Yemeni nationals on charges of drug trafficking, bringing to 63 the number of decapitations in the kingdom since the start of year.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: IRAQI EXECUTED FOR MURDER
An Iraqi national was put to death in Saudi Arabia for murdering a man from the United Arab Emirates, the
- FEBRUARY 8, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: EGYPTIAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed an Egyptian man convicted of smuggling drugs, the interior ministry said, bringing to 59 the number of convicts put to death this year.
FEBRUARY 7, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: SAUDI EXECUTED ON CONCOCTED CHARGES
Iraqi authorities executed in Baghdad a Saudi prisoner, Abdullah Azam Al-Qahtani, 35, on charges
FEBRUARY 2, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Saudi Arabia executed an Ethiopian for murder, bringing to 58 the number of convicts put to death this year.
FEBRUARY 2, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: COURT QUASHES DEATH SENTENCE FOR 'APOSTATE' POET
A court in Saudi Arabia overturned a death sentence against a Palestinian poet convicted of apostasy, giving him eight years in prison instead, his lawyer said.
- FEBRUARY 2, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI EXECUTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING
Saudi Arabia executed one of its citizens for the fatal shooting of another Saudi, bringing to 57 the number
FEBRUARY 1, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Saudi authorities executed a Saudi national for the murder of a compatriot, bringing the number
- JANUARY 28, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES ANOTHER PRISONER, BRINGING TO 55 NUMBER OF CONVICTS PUT TO DEATH THIS YEAR
Saudi Arabia executed one of its citizens for murder, bringing to 55 the number of convicts put to death this year.
- JANUARY 27, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: EGYPTIAN NATIONAL BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Egyptian national after sentencing him to death on charges related to robbery
- JANUARY 25, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: EXECUTIONS REACH 53 IN JANUARY
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said in a statement that a capital sentence against a murderer was carried out
- JANUARY 14, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: YEMENI NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR MURDER
The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that a capital sentence against a murderer was carried out today
- JANUARY 12, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Saudi Arabia put to death one of its citizens convicted of murder, bringing to 51 the number of locals and
- JANUARY 10, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN WOMAN EXECUTED FOR AXE MURDER
Saudi authorities executed an Ethiopian woman convicted of murdering a Saudi female with an axe, the 50th
- JANUARY 6, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a citizen convicted of murder, raising to 49 the number of death sentences carried
Saudi Arabia executed a citizen convicted of murder, raising to 49 the number of death sentences carried
- JANUARY 4, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia put to death a man convicted of murder, following its weekend executions of 47 men including
Saudi Arabia put to death a man convicted of murder, following its weekend executions of 47 men including
JANUARY 2, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 47 PUT TO DEATH, INCLUDING PROMINENT SHIITE CLERIC
Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted of terrorism-related offenses, including suspected members of
- JANUARY 1, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- DECEMBER 29, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO EXECUTED, 153RD DEATH SENTENCE IN 2015
Saudi Arabia executed a Filipino man convicted of murder, bringing to 153 the number of people put to
- DECEMBER 24, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 2 SAUDI MILLIONAIRES SAVES FILIPINO ON DEATH ROW AS CHRISTMAS GIFT
Two Saudi millionaires has donated SR225,000 (Php2.8 million) to pay the blood money (diya) for a
DECEMBER 23, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SRI LANKAN MAID SPARED IN ADULTERY CASE
The life of a Sri Lankan maid due to be stoned to death in Saudi Arabia for adultery has been spared, Sri Lanka's foreign ministry says.
- DECEMBER 15, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI PUT TO DEATH IN KINGDOM'S 151ST EXECUTION OF YEAR
A Saudi convicted of murder was executed in the eastern province of Ihsa, in the 151st death sentence
- DECEMBER 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler and a Saudi murderer.
Saudi Arabia executed a convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler and a Saudi murderer.