Saudi Arabia has executed 100 people since the beginning of 2026, following the execution of seven individuals on Tuesday, according to official figures compiled by AFP.
Among those executed on Tuesday, five had been convicted of drug trafficking offences, bringing the total number of executions linked to drug-related crimes this year to 65.
The latest figures have sparked renewed criticism from human rights organisations, particularly over the growing number of foreign nationals facing capital punishment in the kingdom.
In a statement issued on Monday, Amnesty International described the development as “a grim milestone,” accusing Saudi authorities of making excessive use of the death penalty.
“Foreign nationals have borne the brunt of Saudi Arabia’s ruthless use of the death penalty for drug-related offences, frequently after grossly unfair trials,” the rights organisation said.
Amnesty also expressed concern over reports that dozens of Ethiopian nationals detained in the kingdom could be at risk of execution.
“It is profoundly alarming that at least 63 Ethiopian nationals, held in a single ward of Khamis Mushait detention facility in south-west Saudi Arabia, may be at imminent risk of execution solely for drug-related offences,” the group added.
Data from Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry shows that of the 100 people executed this year, 48 were Saudi citizens.
Others include 12 Ethiopians, seven Pakistanis, six Sudanese, four Yemenis and four Syrians.
The kingdom recorded a significantly higher execution rate in 2025, carrying out 356 executions, including 243 for drug-related offences.
The figure marked the highest annual total documented by Amnesty International since it began tracking executions in 1990.
Saudi Arabia resumed the use of the death penalty for drug trafficking offences in late 2022 after a suspension that lasted nearly three years.
According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia has ranked behind only China and Iran in the number of executions carried out globally over the past three years.
The kingdom has repeatedly faced international criticism over its use of capital punishment, with rights advocates arguing that the practice undermines efforts to project a more progressive image internationally.
Saudi authorities, however, maintain that the death penalty remains a necessary legal tool for preserving public order and insist that executions are carried out only after all judicial appeals have been exhausted.
