Rabih Alenezi
Rabih Alenezi is a former Saudi police colonel who became a vocal critic of Saudi leaders, especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He now lives in the United Kingdom as a political refugee and speaks out for human rights in Saudi Arabia.
Alenezi has spoken about rights abuses connected to the Neom megacity project. He says he was ordered to carry out human rights abuses as part of Saudi security work and that in 2020 he received orders to use lethal force to clear land for Neom, including against members of the Al-Huwaitat tribe. He claims Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti was killed when he refused to leave his home for the project.
He has appeared in documentaries, including Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia and The Future of Saudi Arabia, where he discusses these claims and the Neom plans. He argues that the project harms residents and their homes.
Alenezi studied in the UK for his degrees, worked with American police, and spent about 20 years in Saudi security before defecting. He sought asylum in the UK in early 2023 and has faced many death threats since then, including a bounty on his head. British police told him to live discreetly, similar to Edward Snowden, for his safety.
He continues to speak online, attracting many followers and donations. He has urged Neom’s companies to withdraw from the project, saying residents’ rights and housing should come first.
Coverage in 2024 highlighted his claims as part of broader concerns about Neom and Saudi human rights. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 report also notes his case as an example of intimidating critics abroad.
In March, his online account was hacked and posts about him were replaced with images of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; there were also reports of a disruption at a UK restaurant linked to his criticism. He remains in hiding in the UK, fearing for his safety.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:23 (CET).