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
- APRIL 10, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On April 10, Saudi Arabia executed a Saudi man for...
On April 10, Saudi Arabia executed a Saudi man for shooting and killing a Saudi woman, in the capital Riyadh
- APRIL 8, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On April 8, Filipino Norly Abordo was condemned to...
On April 8, Filipino Norly Abordo was condemned to death for killing a Thai co-worker
- MARCH 20, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On March 20, Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Owaija,...
On March 20, Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Owaija, a Saudi, was executed for shooting to death Hayat bint Saad bin Muslih Al Mutairi, a Saudi girl
- FEBRUARY 27, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On February 27, a man convicted of stabbing to death...
On February 27, a man convicted of stabbing to death another Saudi Arabian national in a dispute was executed in Mecca
- JANUARY 27, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On January 27, two Indonesian men were put to death...
On January 27, two Indonesian men were put to death in the city of Mecca
- JANUARY 6, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
On January 6, Majed bin Mohammed bin Miqbil Al Dayel,...
On January 6, Majed bin Mohammed bin Miqbil Al Dayel, a Saudi, was executed for raping a boy
- JANUARY 1, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Executions are carried out in public with a sword
Executions are carried out in public with a sword
- JANUARY 1, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
The number of executions in Saudi Arabia has increased...
The number of executions in Saudi Arabia has increased sharply over the past year, with 99 carried out in 1999, compared to 29 for the whole of 1998
- JANUARY 1, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia said an official account of how many people...
Saudi Arabia said an official account of how many people were on death row was not available, but there was concern that 59 people were reportedly facing charges that carry the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia was a cosponsor of the amendments presented...
Saudi Arabia was a cosponsor of the amendments presented by Egypt (A/C
- JANUARY 1, 1999Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia applies strict Shari'a law by publicly...
Saudi Arabia applies strict Shari'a law by publicly beheading convicted murderers, rapists, drug smugglers and other criminals, though a victim's immediate family can accept financial compensation, known as "blood money," and spare the life of a convicted