Saudi Arabia Sets Grim Record with 340 Executions in 2025

Saudi Arabia has executed a record-breaking 340 people in 2025, surpassing its previous annual high and drawing intense condemnation from international human rights organizations. The figure, compiled by Agence France-Presse (AFP) based on official Saudi Press Agency data, marks the second consecutive year of historic highs for capital punishment in the Kingdom, following 338 executions in 2024.
The latest executions, carried out on Monday, pushed the total past the previous record, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the world’s most prolific executioners, trailing only China and Iran. The surge is largely driven by a relentless “war on drugs,” which accounts for the majority of the death sentences carried out this year. According to the data, 232 of the 340 executions—nearly 70%—were for drug-related offenses, a sharp reversal from a moratorium on such executions that ended in late 2022.
The demographics of those executed reveal a disproportionate impact on foreign nationals. A significant number of the condemned were citizens of Pakistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia, many of whom rights groups argue were denied adequate legal representation or translation services during their trials. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the judicial process, citing “rampant due process violations,” including the use of confessions obtained under duress and the execution of individuals for crimes committed when they were minors, despite official claims to the contrary.
This escalation in state-sanctioned killings stands in stark contrast to the modern, progressive image Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is attempting to project through his “Vision 2030” agenda. While the Kingdom pours billions into tourism infrastructure, entertainment, and high-profile sporting events like the upcoming 2034 FIFA World Cup, the parallel rise in executions for non-lethal crimes presents a jarring contradiction. Critics argue that the “sportswashing” campaign is designed to obscure a deepening domestic crackdown on dissent and minor offenses.
The interior ministry has defended the use of the death penalty as necessary to “maintain security and achieve justice,” citing Islamic Sharia law. However, the international community views the execution of drug offenders as a violation of international standards, which restrict capital punishment to the “most serious crimes” involving intentional killing. As 2025 draws to a close, the unprecedented pace of executions signals that despite its futuristic ambitions, the Kingdom remains firmly entrenched in its hardline judicial practices.