Unsafe Conditions For Migrant Workers In Saudi Arabia

Many migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are dying in preventable workplace accidents, such as falls, electrocution, and heat-related incidents, especially with the growing construction for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other large projects. Authorities have been criticized for failing to protect workers, investigate deaths properly, or ensure fair and timely compensation to families. In [...]

Saudi Unemployment Hits Record Low Amid Rising Workforce Participation

Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate dropped to a record low of 2.8% in the first quarter of 2025, down 0.7% from the previous quarter and the same time last year. Labor force participation rose to 68.2%, driven by efforts under Vision 2030 to boost jobs and economic growth. Among Saudis, unemployment fell to 6.3%, while participation [...]

Arab Gulf Worried About Iran-U.S. Conflict

After the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear sites with Israel’s support, Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf countries expressed deep concern. They fear the attack could lead to a wider war in the region. These countries worry about being caught in the middle if Iran retaliates by targeting U.S. bases or closing the Strait of Hormuz, [...]

Rising Executions In Saudi Arabia

Saudi journalist Turki al-Jasser was arrested in 2018 for allegedly running a social media account that exposed corruption in the royal family. He was held in secret, tortured, and denied legal help or contact with his family. In 2025, after seven years in prison, Saudi Arabia executed him. Al-Jasser had written about sensitive issues like [...]

Saudi Arabia’s Secretive Women’s Detention Centers

Saudi Arabia's Dar al-Reaya, officially "care homes," serve as detention centers for women and girls charged with disobedience, moral crimes, or family shame. Conditions at these facilities, commonly referred to as "hellish" by former detainees, are said to be rampant with abuse in the form of virginity tests, compelled religious indoctrination, and physical punishments such [...]

Abuse Of Kenyan Domestic Workers In Saudi Arabia

Kenyan workers employed domestically in Saudi Arabia are severely abused and exploited. They are often tricked by Kenyan recruiters and, upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, are subjected to extreme overwork, 16-hour days with no breaks or days off, as well as physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. Employers frequently confiscate passports and phones, isolating workers and [...]

Executions Soar In Saudi Arabia Despite Reform Pledges

Executions in Saudi Arabia doubled in 2024 to at least 345, the highest number Amnesty International has ever recorded for the kingdom. The surge, mostly for terrorism and drug offenses, places Saudi Arabia behind only Iran and China globally. Despite past pledges by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reduce capital punishment, rights groups say [...]

Saudi Woman Vanishes After Imprisonment For Advocating Women’s Rights

Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old Saudi woman and fitness instructor, has been missing since December 15, 2024, after being sentenced to 11 years in prison for advocating women’s rights online. Her family, unable to reach her, fears for her safety, recalling past abuses including torture, solitary confinement, and medical neglect. Manahel was convicted in a secret [...]

Saudi Arabia Frees Some, But Repression of Political Dissent Continues

In Saudi Arabia, political prisoners continue to face harsh repression despite the recent release of some detainees. Dozens of individuals remain imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression, association, and belief. High-profile figures like cleric Salman al-Odah, lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair, and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan are among those still held. Many [...]

Saudi Arabia’s Abusive Criminal Justice System

Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system is plagued by serious abuses that violate basic human rights. The counterterrorism law gives authorities sweeping powers to arrest and detain people without any judicial checks, making it easy for them to bypass fair trial and due process rights. This law is often used to silence dissent, particularly against religious [...]

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