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
- DECEMBER 3, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA SURPASSES 300 EXECUTIONS IN 2024
Saudi Arabia has put over 300 people to death in 2024, according to an AFP tally, after four executions announced on December 3 brought the kingdom's total to a level far outstripping the highest known annual figures.
NOVEMBER 18, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MORE THAN 100 FOREIGNERS EXECUTED IN 2024
Saudi Arabia has executed more than 100 foreigners this year, indicating a sharp increase which one rights group said was unprecedented, AFP reported on November 17, 2024.
NOVEMBER 9, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 3 FAMILY MEMBERS EXECUTED FOR 'ALLEGIANCE TO TERRORIST GROUP'
Saudi authorities on November 7, 2024 announced the execution of three citizens from the same family who were convicted of belonging to a terrorist organisation, Arabi21 reported.
OCTOBER 31, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO EXECUTED FOR CONSPIRING WITH TERRORIST ENTITIES
Two Saudis were executed on October 31, 2024 for committing criminal and terror acts in Saudi Arabia.
OCTOBER 27, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: KENYAN FACING EXECUTION GETS ONE-YEAR REPRIEVE
Stephen Munyakho now known as Abdulkareem convicted of murder in Saudi Arabia is sure of staying alive for the next year after the Kenyan government successfully negotiated an extension on the date when he was supposed to be executed.
OCTOBER 24, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SEVEN PEOPLE EXECUTED IN ONE DAY
Saudi Arabia executed seven individuals on October 23, 2024, including five for drug trafficking, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
- OCTOBER 21, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO SAUDIS EXECUTED FOR PLANNING SUICIDE ATTACK, JOINING TERRORIST GROUP
Two Saudis were executed on October 21, 2024 for committing acts of terrorism in the country, the Ministry of Interior announced.
- OCTOBER 9, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO EXECUTED OVER MURDER, DFA SAYS
A Filipino was executed in Saudi Arabia over the murder of a Saudi national, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on October 8, 2024.
OCTOBER 1, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: HIGHEST EXECUTION TOLL IN DECADES AS AUTHORITIES PUT TO DEATH 198 PEOPLE
Saudi Arabian authorities have put to death over 198 individuals so far in 2024, the highest number of executions recorded in the country since 1990, Amnesty International said on September 28, 2024.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: COURT OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST RETIRED TEACHER OVER POSTS ON X
A Saudi court has overturned the death sentence of a former teacher over social media posts made from anonymous accounts with 10 followers, a UK-based human rights group reported on August 7, 2024.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDERING WIFE
A Saudi man was executed after he was convicted of murdering his wife by beating and burning her.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE EXECUTED ON TERROR CHARGES
Saudi Arabia has executed three people in Riyadh convicted of terror-related charges, the Ministry of Interior said on September 8, 2024.
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: AFGHAN NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, an Afghan national named Abdul Qayyum Shinwari was executed on August 31, 2024 in the city of Mecca.
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: CITIZEN EXECUTED FOR TERRORISM, TREASON
Saudi Arabia on August 17, 2024 issued a statement informing its citizens and residents of a death sentence being carried out against Saudi national, Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Qunai’an.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: CITIZEN EXECUTED FOR ‘HIGH TREASON’
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced on September 1, 2024 that the death sentence of "Abdullah bin Ali bin Sharai al-Shehri" has been executed for the crime of "criminal acts" at the level of "treason against the country".
- AUGUST 5, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES CONVICTED ROBBERY GANG OF FIVE
Saudi authorities have executed five individuals convicted of robbery, kidnapping, and killing an Indian man, Gulf News reported on August 2, 2024.
JULY 30, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI MAN EXECUTED IN HEROINE SMUGGLING
A Pakistani citizen on July 29, 2024 was executed in a heroine smuggling case in Saudi Arabia.
- JULY 24, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MAN EXECUTED OVER TERROR CRIME
Saudi Arabia has issued a statement informing citizens and residents of a death sentence being carried out against a Saudi national, Khaleej Times reported on July 23, 2024.
- JULY 17, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH PENALTY FOR CITIZEN WHO COMMITTED MULTIPLE ACTS OF TERROR
A Saudi national was given a death penalty on July 11, 2024 after committing multiple acts of terror, as per the country's Ministry of Interior.
- JULY 16, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 100 EXECUTIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2024
Saudi Arabia has executed 100 people from the beginning of 2024 to July 15th, representing almost one execution every two days.
- JULY 15, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN EXECUTED AFTER BEING SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior issued a statement on July 13, 2024 informing citizens and residents of the execution of a retribution death sentence against an offender in the Eastern Province.
JULY 2, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: RIYADH COURT SCRAPS KERALA MAN'S DEATH PENALTY, TO BE RELEASED FROM JAIL SOON
The death penalty of Kozhikode native Abdul Rahim who is currently jailed in Saudi Arabia has been officially scrapped, Mathrubhumi web site reported on July 2, 2024.
- MAY 19, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SHIITE MAN EXECUTED FOR THREATENING NATIONAL SECURITY
Saudi Arabia on May 13, 2024 executed a shiite man for threatening national security by financing terrorism and associating with terrorist elements.
- MAY 13, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO SYRIAN NATIONALS EXECUTED FOR SMUGGLING NARCOTICS
Saudi Arabia on May 11, 2024 executed two Syrians over their alleged involvement in drug smuggling within the Kingdom, as the trafficking of narcotics from Syria continues to plague the region.
- MAY 6, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ESCALATING CONCERNS OVER THE LIVES OF MINORS THREATENED WITH DEATH
Saudi Arabia’s court of appeal in April 2024 approved death sentences for two Saudi men for protest-related crimes allegedly committed as children, Human Rights Watch and 26 other organizations said on April 29, 2024 in a joint statement.
- APRIL 8, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FATHER PARDONS SON’S KILLER DAYS BEFORE EXECUTION
Saudi citizen Ati Al Maliki in Mecca has granted a pardon to the killer of his son Abdullah, just days before the scheduled execution set for April 17, without seeking any compensation in return, Gulf News reported on April 7, 2024.
- MARCH 7, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FIVE PAKISTANIS EXECUTED FOR MURDER DURING ARMED ROBBERY
Five Pakistanis have been executed on March 5, 2024 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on charges of killing a watchman during an armed robbery.
- MARCH 2, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FIVE YEMENIS EXECUTED IN LATEST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WAVE
Saudi Arabia on February 28, 2024 executed five Yemeni nationals charged with murder and robbery, state media reported, bringing the number of executions in the kingdom this year to 34.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 7 EXECUTED FOR 'TERRORISM' OFFENSES, STATE MEDIA SAY
Saudi Arabia executed seven people for "terrorism" offenses on February 27, 2024, state media said, the highest single-day figure since 81 were put to death in March 2022.
- FEBRUARY 4, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 4 EXPATS EXECUTED FOR KILLING SUDANESE
Saudi Arabia on January 31, 2024 executed four Ethiopian expatriates on charges of murdering a Sudanese national.