Dubai Police Arrest 222 Beggars During Ramadan and Eid

Dubai Police announced Friday that they have rounded up 222 beggars during Ramadan and the Eidul Fitr holidays, intensifying their crackdown on begging and scams.

Colonel Ahmad Al Adidi, acting director of the Department of Suspects and Criminal Phenomena, said 33 arrests came during Eidul Fitr alone. The haul exposes a web of fraud, from exploiting kids and the disabled to faking medical sob stories.

The sweep ties into the “Fight Begging” campaign, a joint effort with the General Directorate of Residency, Dubai Municipality, RTA, IACAD, and Al Ameen Service. “An Aware Society, Free of Begging” tackles street and online begging head-on. Captain Abdullah Khamis, head of the Anti-Begging Section, stressed dual goals: busting offenders and educating the public on begging’s risks and illegality.

.@DubaiPoliceHQ have arrested 222 beggars during the month of #Ramadan and #EidAlFitr holidays in a continued effort to combat #begging and related fraudulent activities in the emirate, the authority announced on Friday.https://t.co/TebDv7jVyj pic.twitter.com/ai8j3RZHN3

— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) April 4, 2025

Targeting Scams and Fraudulent Appeals

Beyond street begging, the campaign zeros in on shady fundraising—like bogus mosque drives or fake aid pleas. Khamis urged that donations only be made through legitimate charities to sidestep scams. He also pushed reporting via the Dubai Police app’s “Police Eye” or the E-Crime site at www.ecrime.ae. In the UAE, begging nets a Dh5,000 fine and up to three months in jail, while running a begging ring or importing beggars ups the ante to six months and Dh100,000. Unpermitted fundraising? Fines hit Dh500,000.

Dubai Police arrest 222 beggars during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr https://t.co/MUZnOGof2C pic.twitter.com/moGhAzuyl5

— Gulf Today (@gulftoday) April 4, 2025

With Ramadan and Eid spotlighting charity, Dubai’s firm stance aims to clean the streets and protect goodwill from fraudsters.