Authorities in Dubai have stepped up their annual anti-begging campaign during Ramadan, with Dubai Police announcing the arrest of 37 beggars of various nationalities during the second week of the holy month.
The arrests are part of an enforcement drive aimed at preventing people from taking advantage of the charitable spirit traditionally associated with Ramadan, according to a report in The Times of India.
The latest arrests follow similar action taken during the first week of Ramadan, when 26 beggars were arrested under the same campaign.
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‘Combat Begging' Campaign
The operation forms part of the 'Combat Begging' campaign launched under the slogan 'An Aware Society Without Begging', stated a report in Gulf News. The initiative aims at curbing illegal solicitation, while also encouraging residents to donate through legitimate charitable channels.
Ramadan is traditionally a period when Muslims around the world increase charitable donations and acts of generosity. Brigadier Ali Salem Al Shamsi, director of the suspicious persons and criminal phenomena department, said many of those arrested had entered the UAE on visit visas specifically during the holy month just to take advantage of public generosity.
He warned that some beggars use deceptive tactics to evoke sympathy, including involving children, the ailing and people of determination (the official term used in the UAE for people with disabilities).
“One individual has collected 25,000 dirham (around Rs 6.24 lakh), and still continued to beg. Despite the amount being more than sufficient to fund his return home,” Shamsi said.
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Beggar With Luxury Cars Among Those Detained
Among those arrested in these two weeks was a man who owned three luxury cars and admitted to having accumulated a considerable private fortune. According to a report in Khaleej Times, the man would appeal to public sympathy to collect money during the day and then leave the area in his luxury cars after his ‘begging shift' ended at night.
Penalties For Begging In The UAE
According to the Khaleej Times report, begging in the UAE is punishable by up to three months in prison and a fine of Dh5,000 (around Rs 1.25 lakh). Individuals who organise begging rings or recruit people from abroad for this purpose face harsher penalties, including six months in prison and fines of up to Dh100,000 (around Rs 25 lakh).
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Crackdown Across UAE
The campaign is not limited to Dubai, with authorities across the United Arab Emirates increasing patrols and inspections during Ramadan to tackle begging and related scams.
In Ras Al Khaimah, 19 beggars were arrested in the early days of Ramadan, including one who reportedly collected Dh11,000 (around Rs 2.74 lakh) in a single day. Similarly, law enforcement in Sharjah arrested 95 people involved in begging since the start of the holy month, according to the TOI report.
Authorities have also warned about the rise of online begging, where people solicit money through social media or messaging platforms. Police have urged residents and visitors not to hand money directly to beggars, advising them instead to donate through licenced charitable organisations to ensure assistance reaches those genuinely in need.
Officials have also encouraged the public to report incidents of begging through official channels, including the police hotline 901, the 'Police Eye' feature on the Dubai Police app, or the eCrime platform for cases involving online solicitation.
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