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
- JANUARY 16, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Arshad Mohammed, a Pakistani man, was beheaded in Khubar Province after he was convicted
Arshad Mohammed, a Pakistani man, was beheaded in Khubar Province after he was convicted
- JANUARY 13, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Eid al-Dhafiri was beheaded in Hafr al-Baten for murder.
Eid al-Dhafiri was beheaded in Hafr al-Baten for murder.
JANUARY 13, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MORE THAN 45 FOREIGN MAIDS ON DEATH ROW
More than 45 foreign maids are on death row in Saudi Arabia, amid growing global outrage over the treatment of migrant workers, UK's The Observer newspaper reported.
- JANUARY 10, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia...
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia...
- JANUARY 10, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia after the execution
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia after the execution
- JANUARY 9, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SRI LANKAN MAID RIZANA NAFEEK EXECUTED
Saudi Arabia has executed a Sri Lankan domestic worker for killing a baby in her care in 2005, a foreign ministry official in Colombo has told the BBC.
- JANUARY 8, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian citizen in Al-Jawf Province, in the first execution
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian citizen in Al-Jawf Province, in the first execution
- JANUARY 1, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
DECEMBER 19, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SUDANESE MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
A Sudanese man convicted of murder was beheaded by the sword in the western city of Mecca, the Saudi interior ministry said.
- DECEMBER 9, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI BEHEADED FOR MURDER
Saudi authorities beheaded a Pakistani in the city of Mecca for stabbing to death a compatriot, the interior ministry said.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
the Iraqi authorities delayed the execution of a number of Saudi prisoners
the Iraqi authorities delayed the execution of a number of Saudi prisoners
- NOVEMBER 27, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO BEHEADED FOR MURDER
Saudi authorities beheaded two nationals for murder, including one who stabbed his wife to death and burned her corpse, the interior ministry said.
- NOVEMBER 26, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: THREE MURDERERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded three men convicted of separate murders across the kingdom, the interior ministry announced.
OCTOBER 14, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TAAZIR DEATH VERDICTS MUST BE UNANIMOUS
the Shoura Council has made a major decision toward reducing instances of capital punishment
OCTOBER 14, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR CHILD MURDER
A Saudi court has upheld the death sentence of a woman who tortured her seven
- OCTOBER 2, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian for drug smuggling, the interior ministry announced
SEPTEMBER 25, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: SAUDI CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Another Saudi citizen was sentenced to death in Iraq.
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani national in the holy city of Medina after convicting him of drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FOUR BEHEADED OVER SEPARATE CRIMES
At least four person including three of its citizens and a Palestinian were beheaded after they were found guilty in separate cases, the Saudi Arabian interior ministry said.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MAN EXECUTED IN RIYADH
A Saudi national convicted of torturing his wife before strangling her to death was executed
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
a Saudi man convicted of raping a female member of his own family
a Saudi man convicted of raping a female member of his own family
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword one of its citizens...
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword one of its citizens...
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed a citizen of Pakistan in the city of Medina for drug trafficking.
- AUGUST 29, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword a Syrian man in Qurrayyat
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword a Syrian man in Qurrayyat
AUGUST 29, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 26 EXECUTIONS IN THREE DAYS
Iraq executed 26 people convicted of terror-related charges between 27 and 29 August 2012, including a Syrian and Saudi national, a justice ministry spokesman said.
- AUGUST 28, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN BEHEADED IN ASIR PROVINCE
A Saudi man was executed in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murdering
- JULY 31, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
TEHRAN PROTESTS AT RIYADH FOR EXECUTION OF IRANIAN NATIONALS
Iran complained to Saudi government for ignoring Judicial Accord it signed with the Islamic
- JULY 30, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: KING SAVES MAN FROM DEATH SENTENCE
A Saudi man sentenced to death for murdering another Saudi during a fight was saved from
- JULY 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens for smuggling drugs into the kingdom
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens for smuggling drugs into the kingdom
- JULY 3, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens, Nasser al-Dossari...
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens, Nasser al-Dossari...