Dubai police have caught a beggar who owns three luxury cars and an immense amount of money, said an officer to Al Khaleej newspaper. The man admitted to amassing a fortune by asking people for money and was arrested amid an intensive anti-begging crackdown in the emirate during the holy month of Ramadan. As per the officer, he would conclude his “begging shift” in broad daylight, shed his exhausted persona for a different appearance before driving away in his high-end luxury car. He relied on manipulating people’s emotions, fabricating stories and masterfully creating humanitarian details to deliver a daily performance no less than any organised profit-driven enterprise, said Brigadier Ali Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspects and Criminal Phenomena Department. Large sums of money were found in the possession of the beggar. The officer noted that one individual had collected Dh25,000 and still continued to beg, despite the amount being enough to fund his journey back home. The officer said that 90% of the apprehended beggars entered the country on visit visas and used the timing of Ramadan to exploit the generosity of the citizens and residents.

Anti-begging crackdown

Individuals begging in the UAE are punishable by three months in prison and a fine of Dh5,000 as per Federal Law No. 9 of 2018. Those managing organised begging rings or recruiting individuals from abroad to beg in the country may face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to Dh100,000.Within the first week of Ramadan, Dubai Police have arrested over 26 beggars of diverse nationalities under its ‘Combat Begging’ campaign. Organised under the slogan ‘A Conscious Society, Free of Begging’ the campaign is being implemented in collaboration with other partners including the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department to raise awareness on preserving the country’s civilised image and prevent begging. The officer urged residents to report beggars by dialling the toll-free number 901 or using the ‘Police Eye’ service available on the Dubai Police smart app. Additionally, the Dubai Police have also issued a warning to residents against falling victim to online begging scams during the month of Ramadan, urging them not to engage in appeals circulating on websites and social media platforms.