Saudi Arabia has launched a major crackdown on prostitution, begging, and other so-called “immoral acts” following the establishment of a new enforcement unit ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This move comes after years of easing the kingdom’s strict social policies, sparking debates over the nation’s shifting stance on morality and public order.
The Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for community security and human trafficking concerns, has announced the arrest of more than 50 individuals. Among them, 11 women have been detained for prostitution—marking the first time in over a decade that Saudi authorities have officially acknowledged the presence of the practice within the kingdom. Additionally, authorities have apprehended dozens of foreign nationals for alleged immoral activities in massage parlors and for forcing women and children into street begging.
The initiative has drawn comparisons to the now-defunct Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which was notorious for enforcing strict religious and social codes until its authority was significantly reduced in 2016. Under Prince Mohammed’s leadership, Saudi Arabia has since witnessed a dramatic shift, embracing economic diversification and loosening some of its once-stringent cultural restrictions, including allowing cinemas, concerts, and mixed-gender public events.
However, the newly created community security unit signals a renewed effort to regulate public behavior. Columnist Khalid al-Sulaiman, writing for the semi-official Okaz daily, suggested that the crackdown was a response to an increase in public displays of morally questionable activities, including advertisements for illicit services on social media.
“Our country has a special religious and social identity as the birthplace of Islam, and no one should distort the image of Saudi society that has been established over the years as a society dominated by high-level moral and social values,” al-Sulaiman wrote.
The creation of the new enforcement unit has sparked mixed reactions. Some Saudi social media users likened it to a revival of the religious police, albeit with a more modern approach. Others have welcomed the initiative, viewing it as necessary to curb human trafficking and maintain the kingdom’s social fabric.
“Cracking down on human trafficking is a good thing,” said Bandar, a 36-year-old father of three. “Let them clean up the country.”
The rise in tourism, social liberalization, and the influx of foreign workers has reportedly led to an increase in drug abuse and prostitution, though official data remains scarce. The loosening of visa restrictions and expanded freedoms for women have been cited as potential contributing factors to the emergence of the underground sex trade.
The Saudi interior ministry has framed the new unit’s mandate as an effort to uphold personal rights and fundamental freedoms as defined by Islamic law and the kingdom’s legal framework. Analysts suggest this positioning is an attempt to preempt criticism from human rights organizations and Western governments, which have closely monitored Saudi Arabia’s reforms and governance.
“Typically, the framing of such announcements would be around security rather than human rights,” noted Sultan Alamer, a senior resident fellow at the Washington-based New Lines Institute.
Saudi Arabia is expected to receive heightened international scrutiny in the coming years as it prepares to host major global events, including the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The crackdown could be an effort to reinforce the kingdom’s image as a stable and controlled environment for foreign investors and visitors alike.
