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
MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYOne beheaded for murder
26 January 2019: Majren bin Majid bin Osman al-Utaibi was executed for murder in public for murder according to the site capitalpunishment.uk.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Jordan executed for drugs
19 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of Wael Jamal Abdulqadr Ali, a Jordanian, for smuggling a quantity of drugs in the area of Al-Jouf.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Three Yemenis executed for drugs
21 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the executions of three men in Jeddah. They are three Yemenis.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
One beheaded for drug
14 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of Basha Jani Qul Jani for heroin trafficking.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Syrian beheaded for murder
6 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of a Syrian, Majed Thabat Thabit Al Baladi for murder.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Somali beheaded for murder
21 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of a Somali, Abdullah Abu Bakr Siddiq, for a series of crimes including murder.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Pakistani beheaded for drugs
1 January 2019: the Ministry of the Interior issued a statement on the execution of Nizar Ahmed Say Ahmed, of Pakistani nationality, for heroin trafficking, in the Makkah region of Jeddah.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
One beheaded for drug
15 January 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of Ibrahim Al-Saeed Mohammed al Mursi for trafficking amphetamine pills in the Tabuk region.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Saudi beheaded for murder
5 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of the Saudi Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Harthy for the multiple murder.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Saudi beheaded for murder
13 February 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of the Saudi Ali bin Manae bin Ali Al Mardaf for the murder and mutilation of the nose of another Saudi.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Saudi beheaded for murder
17 January 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of a Saudi Abdullah bin Hajri bin Jaber for a murder.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
One beheaded for murder
23 January 2019: the Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of a Saudi, Abdulrahman bin Abderabeh bib Afnan al-Balawi, for the murder of another Saudi.
- MARCH 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Pakistani beheaded for drugs
7 January 2019: Interior Ministry announced the execution of Raj Mohammad Ghaus Rahman (or Raj Mohammad Ghuth al Rahman) - Pakistani nationality - for heroin trafficking in the Eastern Province.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MOTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING GIRL
A mother was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for murder, Spa reported on 11 February 2019.
- JANUARY 31, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO WORKER EXECUTED
A 39-year-old Filipino household service worker was executed for murder in Saudi Arabia on 29 January 2019, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.
- JANUARY 28, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FOUR YEMENIS EXECUTED FOR GUARD'S MURDER
Saudi Arabia on 27 January 2019 executed four Yemenis found guilty of murdering a security guard, the kingdom's interior ministry said.
- JANUARY 11, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
A Pakistani executed for drug
29 January 2018: Mohammed Imran Falak Sher, a Pakistani citizen, was beheaded for smuggling heroin.
- JANUARY 11, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
ARABIA: PAKISTANI NATIONAL EXECUTED IN DAMMAM FOR BEATING TO DEATH A SAUDI MAN
A Pakistani national on 9 January 2019 was executed in Saudi Arabia’s Dammam for beating to death a Saudi national.
JANUARY 4, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI NATIONAL EXECUTED IN MADINAH FOR STABBING MAN TO DEATH
A Saudi national was executed in Madinah on 2 January 2019 for stabbing a man to death, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
- JANUARY 3, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ONE PAKISTANI NATIONAL, TWO EGYPTIANS EXECUTED FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS
A Pakistani national and two Egyptians have been executed in Saudi Arabia for smuggling drugs, the kingdom’s ministry of Interior said on 1 January 2019.
- JANUARY 1, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- DECEMBER 30, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Egyptian citizen beheaded in Khamis Mushait Governatorate
30 December 2018: Yusuf Mohammed Yousuf Asma'i executed for murdering a co-national
- DECEMBER 24, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani national beheaded in Mecca
24 December 2018: Manur Hussein Karan Ali executed for drugs trafficking
- DECEMBER 20, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
"At least 54 people facing death sentence for opposition to regime"
20 December 2018: Declaration by NGO Reprieve
- DECEMBER 18, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Nabhaniyah Province
18 December 2018: Mahaia binn Maawad bin Marished al-Madhibri al-Rashidi executed for murder
- DECEMBER 18, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Ethiopian woman beheaded in Dammam
18 December 2018: Milyun Abisa Nadu executed for murder
- DECEMBER 17, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani national beheaded in Jeddah
17 December 2018: Jehan Khayal Mat Khan executed for drugs trafficking
- DECEMBER 11, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Ayed bin Asaad bin Said al-Ahmed beheaded for murder
11 December 2018: Ayed bin Asaad bin Said al-Ahmed executed
- DECEMBER 11, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi national beheaded in Governatorate of Al Khobar
11 December 2018: Ahmed bin Musfer bin Shaaban al-Maalawi executed for murder
- DECEMBER 10, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani national beheaded in Mecca
10 December 2018: Shahbal Iqbal Muhammad executed for drugs trafficking