Executions in Saudi Arabia Hit Highest Number on Record in 2025

In 2025, Saudi Arabia reached a grim milestone. The kingdom carried out more executions than at any other point in its modern history, sending shockwaves through the international community and reigniting long-standing debates about capital punishment, human rights, and legal reform in the Middle East.

For observers around the world, the sharp rise is not just about statistics—it is about lives lost, legal systems under scrutiny, and a widening gap between global human rights standards and domestic law enforcement practices.

A record-breaking year

According to publicly available tallies, Saudi Arabia executed hundreds of people in 2025, surpassing all previous annual records. This marked the second consecutive year of record-high executions, signaling a clear shift toward stricter enforcement of capital punishment rather than restraint.

The surge has been driven largely by convictions related to drug offenses, following the government’s decision to reinstate the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes after a temporary suspension in earlier years. Authorities argue that harsh punishment is necessary to deter trafficking and protect society, particularly as the region faces growing challenges linked to organized crime.

However, critics say the scale and speed of executions raise serious concerns about proportionality and due process.

Who is most affected?

One of the most troubling aspects of the 2025 execution surge is the profile of those sentenced to death. A significant number of the executed were foreign nationals, many of them migrant workers from developing countries. These individuals often face additional vulnerabilities, including language barriers, limited access to legal representation, and reduced ability to seek diplomatic intervention.

Human rights advocates have long warned that non-citizens are disproportionately impacted by harsh sentencing in the kingdom. In many cases, families only learn of executions after they have already taken place, leaving no opportunity for appeals or final visits.

Beyond nationality, concerns also extend to the types of crimes punished by death. International law generally restricts capital punishment to the “most serious crimes,” typically interpreted as intentional killing. Executions for non-violent offenses, particularly drug crimes, remain one of the most contentious issues surrounding Saudi Arabia’s justice system.

The government’s justification

Saudi authorities defend their policies by emphasizing national sovereignty and the importance of maintaining public order. Officials insist that all death sentences are issued through the judicial process and comply with Islamic law as interpreted by the kingdom’s courts.

From the government’s perspective, strong enforcement is a matter of security and moral responsibility. Drug trafficking, they argue, threatens families, social stability, and national well-being. The death penalty is presented as a deterrent, not a political tool.

Yet critics counter that deterrence claims are difficult to prove and that executions carried out behind closed doors undermine transparency and accountability.

Global backlash and human rights pressure

The international response to the 2025 execution figures has been swift and critical. Human rights organizations have condemned the surge, calling it a setback for global efforts to reduce or abolish the death penalty. Many point out that the rise comes at a time when much of the world is moving in the opposite direction, with increasing numbers of countries adopting moratoriums or ending capital punishment altogether.

There are also growing concerns about fair trial standards. Allegations include forced confessions, limited access to lawyers, and trials conducted in secrecy. In some cases, death sentences have reportedly been imposed under discretionary legal provisions, granting judges wide latitude in determining punishment.

These issues fuel fears that the death penalty may be used not only as a criminal justice measure, but also as a means of exerting control in a tightly managed political environment.

A contradiction with reform narratives

Saudi Arabia has spent recent years promoting an image of modernization and reform under its Vision 2030 agenda. The country has opened its doors to international tourism, expanded entertainment sectors, and encouraged foreign investment. Against this backdrop, the record number of executions appears deeply contradictory.

Critics argue that economic and social reforms lose credibility when paired with escalating human rights violations. For investors and international partners, the execution surge complicates the narrative of progress and raises ethical concerns about engagement with the kingdom.

Supporters of reform within Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, worry that the continued reliance on capital punishment undermines gradual efforts toward legal modernization.

What comes next?

Whether Saudi Arabia will reconsider its approach remains uncertain. The government has shown little indication that it plans to scale back executions, despite sustained international criticism. For now, capital punishment remains a central feature of the kingdom’s criminal justice system.

What is clear is that the world is watching closely. Each execution adds weight to a growing global debate about justice, mercy, and the role of the state in taking life. For families affected by these sentences, the debate is painfully personal. For policymakers and human rights advocates, it represents one of the most urgent moral challenges of our time.

As 2025 draws to a close, the record numbers stand as a stark reminder that progress is uneven—and that the struggle between security, sovereignty, and human dignity is far from resolved.