Saudi Arabia Records Second Consecutive Year of Record-High Executions
Riyadh’s capital punishment figures for 2025 exceed the previous annual record, driven by intensified drug-related prosecutions and broader justice policies
Saudi authorities executed at least 356 people in 2025, marking the highest number of annual executions on record and the second consecutive year the kingdom has broken its own tally.
The surge in capital punishment exceeds the 338 executions documented in 2024 and reflects Riyadh’s intensified enforcement of laws, particularly as part of its expanded campaign against drug crimes.
These figures represent the most executions in Saudi Arabia since systematic tallies began, illustrating a significant increase in the use of the death penalty across a range of offences.
A substantial proportion of those executed in 2025 — more than two-thirds — were convicted of drug-related offences, a category that Saudi authorities have pursued aggressively since resuming capital sentences for narcotics cases at the end of 2022. The kingdom has framed these measures as essential to combating drug trafficking and protecting public order, citing the prevalence of illicit stimulants such as Captagon in the region and the need for robust judicial deterrence.
Foreign nationals accounted for a large share of the executions, according to monitoring groups, with individuals from several countries among those put to death.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about due process, the fairness of trials, and the application of the death penalty for non-violent crimes, arguing that such practices diverge from international norms on capital punishment.
Observers also note that the rise in executions occurs amid Saudi Arabia’s broader global engagement and efforts to present a more modernised image under Vision 2030, an agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the economy and open the kingdom to international tourism and events.
The consecutive record highs in executions have drawn sustained criticism from rights organisations, which argue that the pace and scale of capital sentences challenge global human rights standards.
Saudi officials, however, maintain that the death penalty is imposed only after all legal avenues, including appeals, have been exhausted and is reserved for serious crimes.
The kingdom continues to be among the countries with the highest execution rates worldwide, underscoring deep differences in criminal justice approaches and international expectations.
The surge in capital punishment exceeds the 338 executions documented in 2024 and reflects Riyadh’s intensified enforcement of laws, particularly as part of its expanded campaign against drug crimes.
These figures represent the most executions in Saudi Arabia since systematic tallies began, illustrating a significant increase in the use of the death penalty across a range of offences.
A substantial proportion of those executed in 2025 — more than two-thirds — were convicted of drug-related offences, a category that Saudi authorities have pursued aggressively since resuming capital sentences for narcotics cases at the end of 2022. The kingdom has framed these measures as essential to combating drug trafficking and protecting public order, citing the prevalence of illicit stimulants such as Captagon in the region and the need for robust judicial deterrence.
Foreign nationals accounted for a large share of the executions, according to monitoring groups, with individuals from several countries among those put to death.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about due process, the fairness of trials, and the application of the death penalty for non-violent crimes, arguing that such practices diverge from international norms on capital punishment.
Observers also note that the rise in executions occurs amid Saudi Arabia’s broader global engagement and efforts to present a more modernised image under Vision 2030, an agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the economy and open the kingdom to international tourism and events.
The consecutive record highs in executions have drawn sustained criticism from rights organisations, which argue that the pace and scale of capital sentences challenge global human rights standards.
Saudi officials, however, maintain that the death penalty is imposed only after all legal avenues, including appeals, have been exhausted and is reserved for serious crimes.
The kingdom continues to be among the countries with the highest execution rates worldwide, underscoring deep differences in criminal justice approaches and international expectations.
