Saudi Arabia executed 356 people in 2025, setting a new record for the highest number of executions in a single year, according to a tally released on Thursday. Most of those executed were convicted of drug-related offenses, reflecting the kingdom's intensified anti-drug campaign. Notably, more foreigners than Saudi citizens were executed for the first time, as authorities expanded enforcement efforts at highways and borders. The surge in executions has drawn renewed criticism from international rights groups, who argue that the practice undermines Saudi Arabia's attempts to present a modern and reform-oriented image.