The sharp rise in the Saudi Arabia death penalty cases has put the kingdom under intense international scrutiny once again. Rights groups say the number of executions has doubled in 2024, sparking fresh concerns about unfair trials, secretive legal processes, and the treatment of foreign nationals. As global attention shifts toward Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious modernization plans, families of executed prisoners insist that behind the glitzy image of a transforming nation lies a system marked by fear, secrecy, and harsh punishment.
Human rights organizations tracking capital punishment in the kingdom say Saudi Arabia executed 345 people in 2024, most for non-violent drug crimes. Many of those killed were migrant workers from Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. These individuals often enter the country seeking economic opportunity, only to find themselves trapped in a legal system with little transparency and limited access to defense.
One of the most painful cases was that of Mohamed Saad, a 28-year-old Egyptian fisherman who disappeared during a routine trip in the Sinai Peninsula. His family spent months searching, only to later discover he had been detained in Tabuk prison. For eight years, Saad remained in custody before being executed on drug-smuggling charges. His family learned of his death not through official channels, but from another inmate.
Stories like Saad’s highlight the broader concerns about the Saudi Arabia death penalty process: families often remain unaware of the prisoner’s location, legal status, or even the date of execution.
Saudi Arabia promotes itself as a country undergoing rapid change. Women are driving, entertainment is flourishing, and global events like the FIFA World Cup 2034 are on the horizon. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom has positioned itself as a modern Middle Eastern powerhouse aiming to attract foreign investment and tourism.
Yet while the country markets its Vision 2030 reforms to the world, rights groups warn that the increased use of capital punishment tells a different story. Despite earlier promises to scale back executions, Saudi Arabia now ranks among the world’s top executioners, behind only China and Iran.
Foreign nationals are especially vulnerable. Accounts from Tabuk prison describe death row inmates waking every morning not knowing if it will be their last. Some prisoners face execution for crimes allegedly committed as minors, including two young Shiite men arrested during the Arab Spring protests when they were teenagers.
Saudi Arabia’s growing ties with Washington have also drawn criticism. Massive defense deals and investment agreements have overshadowed human rights concerns. Analysts argue that the kingdom feels shielded from international pressure, especially with the Trump administration prioritizing trade and strategic alliances over accountability.
Activists say this political climate has emboldened Saudi authorities, creating a sense that the kingdom can act without consequence. The rapid rise of the Saudi Arabia death penalty cases reinforces that perception, particularly for vulnerable migrant workers and marginalized communities inside the country.
In letters to the United Nations, Saudi officials reject accusations of secret executions or unfair trials. They maintain that every case undergoes multiple layers of judicial review and that prisoners are granted consular access. They argue that capital punishment is reserved for the most serious crimes.
However, human rights defenders and families of inmates dispute this, saying legal representation is inconsistent and often symbolic. In many cases, they claim that confessions are obtained under duress and court rulings appear predetermined.
The ongoing rise of the Saudi Arabia death penalty reflects a deeper contradiction within the kingdom’s transformation. While the country presents itself as modern and forward-looking, the reality for many prisoners and their families remains shrouded in fear and uncertainty. As global leaders strengthen ties with Riyadh, human rights advocates warn that without meaningful pressure, the cycle of secrecy, harsh sentencing, and escalating executions will continue. Understanding this complex picture is essential for grasping where Saudi Arabia truly stands today, and where it may be headed next.
