Saad Almadi, a 75-year-old retiree from Florida, has found himself at the center of a diplomatic and human rights controversy after being convicted of cyber crimes in Saudi Arabia—a case that has stirred concern among American officials, human rights advocates, and his own family. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Almadi was sentenced on September 14, 2025, for distributing online content that Saudi authorities claim undermined public order. The posts in question were critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and referenced the notorious killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as the crown prince’s consolidation of power.
Almadi’s ordeal began in 2021, when he traveled from his home in Boca Raton, Florida, to Saudi Arabia for what was supposed to be a short family visit. Instead, he was detained upon arrival, confronted by officials with years-old tweets, and swiftly charged under terrorism laws. The initial ruling handed him more than 19 years in prison, a sentence that shocked his family and drew attention from human rights organizations tracking similar cases. After spending over a year behind bars, Almadi was released, but the Saudi government imposed a strict exit ban, preventing him from leaving the kingdom until March 2026.
The recent conviction, which carries a three-year sentence, spares Almadi from further prison time, but the travel restriction remains—a punishment that his son, Ibrahim Almadi, believes is meant to silence not only his father but also other American citizens facing similar restrictions. "The government keeps changing its mind, and there's no consequences every time it does," Ibrahim told the Associated Press, expressing frustration at what he sees as shifting legal tactics designed to discourage public criticism of the Saudi leadership.
Saudi Arabia, for its part, has not responded to requests for comment on Almadi’s case. The kingdom does not recognize dual citizenship and has consistently rejected criticism of its internal actions, insisting that such measures are part of a broader campaign against corruption, terrorism, and security threats. This stance has drawn sharp rebukes from international human rights groups, who argue that the crackdown is being used to muzzle dissent and control the narrative surrounding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rule.
Almadi’s case is far from isolated. Abdullah Alaoudh, a senior director at the Middle East Democracy Center in Washington, tracks the plight of Americans and dual nationals under similar exit bans in Saudi Arabia. According to Alaoudh, at least four others—including an American citizen, two dual U.S.-Saudi nationals, and a U.S. green-card holder—are currently facing comparable restrictions. These cases, he says, are often linked to social media activity or public criticism of the Saudi government, and they highlight the risks that American citizens can face when traveling abroad, especially in countries with tense or complex relationships with the United States.
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged Almadi’s situation, stating that it is monitoring the case, providing appropriate consular services, and remaining in contact with the family. However, officials have declined to comment further, citing privacy considerations. The White House has also remained silent, even as the political and diplomatic stakes have grown.
The muted response from U.S. leadership is particularly notable given the history of American efforts to secure the release of citizens held overseas. Former President Donald Trump, who has often touted his commitment to bringing Americans home from foreign detention, has been largely quiet on Almadi’s case. When asked about it in May, Trump told reporters he was not aware of the situation but promised to look into it. Not long after, his national security aide Sebastian Gorka met with Ibrahim Almadi at the White House—a meeting that, so far, has not led to any public action or resolution.
Meanwhile, the relationship between the Trump family and Saudi Arabia has only grown closer. During a high-profile visit to Riyadh in May, Trump described Crown Prince Mohammed as an "incredible man" and "my friend." The Trump Organization, which has longstanding business ties in the region, recently inked a deal with Dar Global—a developer closely linked to the Saudi royal family—to build a Trump-branded beachside villa and an 18-hole golf course in neighboring Qatar. Another project, a luxury high-rise apartment complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was announced last December. And in a move that raised eyebrows among ethics watchdogs, a private equity firm controlled by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, received a $2 billion investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which is overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed himself.
These deepening financial and diplomatic ties complicate the U.S. government’s response to human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia. As the world’s largest oil producer and a key player in regional conflicts involving Iran and Yemen, Saudi Arabia is also central to American efforts to foster normalization between Israel and Arab states—a foreign policy milestone first pursued under Trump’s Abraham Accords initiative. The balancing act between strategic interests and the protection of American citizens abroad has never been more apparent.
For Almadi and his family, the consequences are personal and immediate. Ibrahim Almadi has spoken out repeatedly, arguing that the exit ban is a calculated move to keep his father—and others like him—quiet during a period when the crown prince is seeking to rehabilitate his image on the global stage. "They want to make sure we don't get in the way of his diplomatic comeback," Ibrahim said, echoing a sentiment shared by many advocates who see the crackdown as part of a broader effort to control dissent and shape international perceptions of Saudi Arabia.
The broader implications of Almadi’s case extend well beyond one family’s ordeal. Human rights organizations warn that the use of exit bans and lengthy prison sentences for online criticism sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and the treatment of dual nationals. As more Americans travel or do business in countries with authoritarian tendencies, the risks of falling afoul of local laws—sometimes for actions as simple as a tweet—are likely to grow.
For now, Saad Almadi remains in legal limbo, unable to return to his home in Florida and uncertain about what the future holds. His case serves as a stark reminder of the complex and sometimes perilous intersection between geopolitics, business interests, and individual rights on the world stage.