Dubai Police Arrest Beggar With 3 Luxury Cars During Ramadan Anti-Begging Crackdown

Dubai anti-begging crackdown exposed a man who owned three luxury cars while posing as a struggling beggar during Ramadan.

Dubai Police arrested the suspect as part of an intensified campaign against begging during the holy month. Officers said the man admitted he had built significant wealth by asking people for money.

According to Brigadier Ali Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspects and Criminal Phenomena Department, the man would end his “begging shift” in daylight. He then changed his appearance and drove away in a high-end vehicle.

Luxury Lifestyle Behind a False Persona

Brigadier Al Shamsi told Al Khaleej newspaper that the suspect relied on fabricated humanitarian stories to gain sympathy. He carefully crafted emotional details to persuade residents and visitors to donate.

Police found large sums of money in his possession. In one case, an individual collected Dh25,000 but continued begging despite having enough funds to support himself or return home.

Authorities said 90 percent of apprehended beggars entered the UAE on visit visas. Many deliberately chose Ramadan to exploit the generosity of citizens and residents.

26 Arrested in First Week of Ramadan

During the first week of Ramadan, Dubai Police arrested 26 beggars of different nationalities. The arrests fall under the “Combat Begging” campaign launched across the emirate.

The initiative operates under the slogan “A Conscious Society, Free of Begging.” It runs in coordination with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.

Residents can verify official donation channels through the UAE Government’s official charity guidelines. Authorities stress that donations should go only to licensed organisations.

Federal Law No. 9 of 2018 imposes strict penalties on begging. Individuals face up to three months in prison and a Dh5,000 fine. Organised begging rings or recruiters can face six months in prison and fines reaching Dh100,000, according to the UAE’s official crime prevention framework.

Public Urged to Report Suspicious Activity

Brigadier Al Shamsi urged residents to report beggars by calling the toll-free number 901. They can also use the “Police Eye” feature on the Dubai Police smart app.

Online begging cases can be reported through the e-Crime platform. The Anti-Cybercrime Department warned that fraudsters use Ramadan’s spirit of generosity to conduct scams.

Dubai Police continue to raise awareness to protect the country’s civilised image. Officials say the goal is not only enforcement, but also guiding donations toward legitimate charitable organisations.