356 People Executed in Saudi Arabia in 2025, Including Juveniles and over a Hundred Foreigners

In 2025, Saudi Arabia set a grim record by executing 356 individuals, surpassing previous years and drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations worldwide. 

This surge in capital punishments, primarily linked to drug-related offenses, highlights a stark contrast to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) ambitious promises of modernization and economic diversification under Vision 2030. While MBS touts reforms aimed at transforming the kingdom into a global hub for tourism, technology, and entertainment, the execution rate—averaging nearly one per day—underscores persistent human rights concerns.

Among the executed were four women and two juveniles, with over a hundred being foreign nationals from countries like Pakistan, Egypt, and others convicted mostly in anti-drug campaigns. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned this escalation, noting that 243 executions were tied to narcotics charges, a significant jump from prior years. Foreigners, often migrant workers with limited legal protections, bore the brunt, as Saudi authorities intensified their “war on drugs.” Reports indicate that many faced unfair trials, with confessions allegedly extracted under duress, and little access to consular support.

This record comes amid MBS’s high-profile efforts to rebrand Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030, launched in 2016, seeks to reduce oil dependency by boosting sectors like renewable energy, where the kingdom aims for 50% of electricity from renewables by 2030, and enhancing women’s roles in society—now allowing them to drive, work in public spaces, and participate more actively in the economy. Mega-projects like Neom, a futuristic city, and investments in healthcare and digital infrastructure symbolize this shift toward a “vibrant society” and “thriving economy.” 

Nevertheless, critics argue these reforms are superficial, masking authoritarian control and a disregard for international norms on capital punishment.

Adding to the irony, in November 2025, MBS visited the White House, meeting U.S. President Donald Trump to strengthen economic and defense ties. The leaders signed the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement, discussing issues like the Sudan war and Gaza ceasefire, while Trump defended MBS amid past controversies. This warm reception occurred despite calls from rights advocates to address Saudi’s execution spree, which included juveniles despite a 2020 royal decree supposedly abolishing such penalties for minors.

The executions have sparked international outcry, with the UN and EU urging a moratorium. 

As Saudi Arabia pushes for global partnerships, the tension between its modernization narrative and human rights record remains unresolved, raising questions about the true cost of progress under MBS’s rule.