Saudi Arabian authorities carried out 96 executions between January and late June 2026. Officials sentenced most of those individuals to death for drug-related offenses.
Amnesty International released a report that detailed the figures. The organization stated that Saudi officials executed 61 people for drug trafficking and related crimes during this period. Of those executed, 39 were foreign nationals while 22 were Saudi citizens.
Authorities performed the latest execution on June 18. Transitioning from earlier months, the pace of executions remained high throughout the first half of the year. Many cases involved smuggling activities, including amphetamine pills and other substances.
Human rights monitors noted that foreign nationals made up a significant portion of those put to death. Saudi officials convicted these individuals under strict anti-drug laws. Reports indicated that some faced charges for possession or trafficking of hashish and similar substances.
Amnesty International urged Saudi Arabia to halt further executions. The group emphasized that many offenses did not meet international standards for capital punishment. Separately, the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights tracked similar trends in previous years and called for reinstatement of earlier moratoriums on drug-related death sentences.
Saudi authorities defended their actions as necessary to combat drug trafficking. They maintained that such measures protected public safety and enforced national laws. Officials announced executions through state media after judicial processes concluded.
The report comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty. Rights organizations continued to document cases and advocate for reforms as the year progressed.
