5 Most Brutal Countries in the World You Never Want to Visit

Saudi Arabia — The Execution Machine

Saudi Arabia has seen an unprecedented spike in executions in 2025, carrying out at least 322 executions by early December — the highest on record. Over half of those executed have been foreign nationals, and at least 198 were convicted of nonviolent drug offences. The June 2025 execution of journalist Turki al-Jasser, who had exposed royal corruption, raised serious concerns that the government is using the death penalty to crush peaceful dissent. Migrant workers continue to face widespread labour abuses, including wage theft and gruesome workplace deaths as the country prepares for the 2034 World Cup.