Recent reports from Saudi Arabia indicate that the country executed at least 356 individuals in 2025—marking the highest total in modern history and a notable rise from the previous record of 338 in 2024.
Based on information from Agence France-Presse (AFP), it was found that around 243 of the executions were tied to drug offenses. The spike in executions is largely attributed to a specific incident related to drug trafficking.
After a period of unofficially halting executions, the Saudi government resumed them in late 2022, apparently as part of a strategy to regain international support following the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Execution practices, initially softened in 2020, shifted back into gear, perhaps as a reaction to domestic pressures.
To combat the surge in Captagon—a type of amphetamine prevalent among the youth in affluent areas—the Saudi authorities are targeting drug dealers. Most of those executed were foreign nationals, hailing from countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria.
While the Saudi government recognizes that its death penalty practices are contentious, they argue that strict measures are necessary to manage the drug crisis. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has articulated a strong resolve to combat societal issues, even if it entails using extreme methods that could upset international relations.
Saudi officials claim their rigorous approach has been beneficial, particularly with newfound backing in the anti-Captagon campaign from Syria, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The latter has promised to crack down on drug trafficking.
By the time Saudi Arabia reinstated its execution policies in 2022, Syria had emerged as the leading global producer of Captagon. Critics have pointed out that the Captagon trade is a significant aspect of Syria’s economy, linked to high-profile individuals within the Assad regime who are deeply implicated in drug trafficking.
Human rights advocates are critical of Saudi Arabia’s stance on the death penalty for drug offenses. Recently, Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the increase in executions as “horrifying,” urging the international community to pressure Saudi leaders to pause death sentences for non-violent drug-related crimes.
HRW researcher Joey Hsieh mentioned that public figures and influencers should reconsider their financial associations with Saudi Arabia, especially given the troubling context surrounding the rise in executions in 2025.
Earlier in September, the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) requested that Saudi Arabia halt executions for individuals convicted of offenses committed while they were minors. This request was influenced by the case of Jalal Rabad, who was executed despite being arrested at ages 16 and 17 for participating in protests against government actions toward the Shiite community. His situation has sparked renewed concerns about the harsh penalties disproportionately faced by Shiite individuals in the country.
