Saudi Arabia Executes 100 People in 2026 for Drug Crimes

In 2026, Saudi Arabia executed a total of 100 people, with five executions occurring on a Tuesday, bringing the number of executions related to drug trafficking to 65. According to figures from the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry, among those executed were 48 Saudi nationals, 12 Ethiopians, seven Pakistanis, six Sudanese, four Yemenis, and four Syrians.

Amnesty International condemned this grim milestone, stating that the country has reinstated the death penalty for drug-related offenses since late 2022 after a three-year suspension. The organization expressed alarm over the unfair trials faced by many, particularly noting that at least 63 Ethiopian nationals are at imminent risk of execution solely for drug-related offenses.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia executed 356 individuals, with 243 of those executions related to drug offenses, marking a significant increase in the use of capital punishment. The kingdom ranks third in the world for the number of executions, following China and Iran, and faces ongoing criticism from human rights groups regarding its use of the death penalty.