Saudi Arabia is known for being conservative, so it's no surprise that prostitution is illegal in the country. However, I did some research and found two cases of illegal prostitution in the country, which were strikingly similar. In 2014, "a young Saudi was arrested for forcing unemployed women and girls seeking jobs to practice prostitution after luring them to his house claiming he was a recruitment officer of a company." Just this year, police arrested two men who set up brothels south of the capital city, Riyadh, and "allegedly lured housemaids to work as sex workers." In both of these instances, low-class women were used to perpetrate an illegal act.
These stories intrigued me because I understand who these prostitutes were. Women come from countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and India to work as housemaids/cleaners in Saudi Arabia. They earn money to send back to their families at home, often working grueling hours or falling prey to harsh treatment. When men come and offer them an escape from their miserable lives, these women are likely to take it without knowing what they are signing up for.
What can be done to protect women in Saudi Arabia and other countries?
Sources: https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-police-raid-two-brothels-in-riyadh-1.72010911, https://www.arabnews.com/news/572556