Dubai Police arrest 9 beggars on first day of Ramadan in crackdown effort

Dubai Police arrested nine people for begging on the first day of Ramadan as part of their ongoing ‘Fight Begging’ campaign. This initiative, running under the slogan “A Conscious Society, Free of Beggars,” aims to stop begging and maintain Dubai’s reputation. The campaign is being carried out in partnership with several government departments, including the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, and the Al Ameen Service.

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Brigadier Ali Salem Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspects and Criminal Phenomena Department, highlighted the success of the campaign. He mentioned that, over the years, strict action has led to a significant drop in the number of beggars. “On the first day of Ramadan, we arrested nine beggars, including five men and four women,” he said.

Beggars Exploiting People’s Kindness

Al Shamsi explained that many beggars take advantage of people’s kindness, especially during Ramadan. He warned that some even use children, elderly individuals, or people with disabilities to gain sympathy. “We have seen cases where women beg while carrying children to make people feel sorry for them,” he added.

The campaign is focused on all forms of begging, whether it happens in mosques, markets, or public places. It also tackles newer forms of begging, such as asking for money online or pretending to collect donations for fake charities.

Encouraging Proper Ways to Help

Al Shamsi emphasized that Dubai has many official charities and organizations that help those in need. Programs like ‘Iftar for the Fasting’ ensure that people who require assistance get it in the right way. He advised the public not to give money to beggars and instead report them to the authorities.

He urged residents to report begging cases through Dubai Police’s contact center at 901, the ‘Police Eye’ service in the Dubai Police app, or the ‘E-crime’ platform for online scams.

Dubai Police continue to remind the community that supporting official charities is the best way to help those in need while ensuring that fraudsters do not take advantage of people’s generosity.