In 2025, Saudi Arabia witnessed a record-breaking surge in executions, with 356 individuals facing the ultimate punishment. This alarming statistic comes as a stark reminder of the kingdom's stringent stance on drug-related crimes, which has been a central focus of its 'war on drugs'. The surge in executions is attributed to the legal proceedings and convictions of those arrested in previous years, with a staggering 243 individuals executed for drug-related cases alone in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year that Saudi Arabia has set a new record for executions, following the 338 executions carried out in 2024. The kingdom's resumption of executions for drug offenses in late 2022, after a three-year suspension, has raised concerns about the severity of its drug policies. Saudi Arabia's role as a significant market for fenethylline, a stimulant known as Captagon, further highlights the gravity of the situation. The UN reports that Captagon was Syria's largest export under Bashar al-Assad. Since the launch of the 'war on drugs', authorities have intensified police checkpoints, resulting in the confiscation of millions of pills and the arrest of numerous traffickers. However, the majority of those executed in drug-related cases have been foreigners, which has sparked criticism from rights groups. They argue that the death penalty is excessive and contradicts Saudi Arabia's efforts to project a modern image globally. Activists also claim that the kingdom's continued use of capital punishment undermines its aspirations of becoming a more open and tolerant society, as envisioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 agenda. Despite these controversies, Saudi Arabia justifies the death penalty as a means to uphold public order, emphasizing that it is employed only after all appeal avenues have been exhausted.
