Two beggars arrested in Dubai. DUBAI POLICE

Police in Dubai have arrested a group of 13 people accused of operating an organised begging network led by a ringleader based overseas. According to Dubai Police, the suspects are part of a coordinated group that used emotional stories to persuade residents to give them money. Brigadier Ali Salem Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspicious Persons and Criminal Phenomena Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said the gang members targeted members of the public by pretending to be stranded and in urgent need of help. “The gang used various methods to exploit community members’ emotions, claiming to be stranded in the country and in need of help,” he said. Authorities said the suspects approached people in locations where they were more likely to receive sympathy, including outside mosques, hospitals, clinics, markets and busy streets. Police warned residents not to give money to beggars, saying many operate under organised schemes designed to exploit compassion for financial gain. The arrests are part of the ongoing “Combat Begging” campaign launched by Dubai Police under the slogan “An Aware Society, Free of Begging.” The initiative is being carried out in cooperation with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department. Al Shamsi said the campaign aims to raise public awareness and preserve the country’s positive social image by preventing organised begging activities. He urged residents not to respond to beggars and to report them instead through official channels. Members of the public can report cases through the Dubai Police contact centre at 901, the Police Eye service on the Dubai Police smart app, or through the e-Crime platform. Officials also encouraged residents to donate through licensed charities and official platforms to ensure assistance reaches people who genuinely need support. “Dubai Police remains committed to fighting the scourge of begging, which tarnishes the nation’s civilized image and hides fraud behind deceptive tactics,” Al Shamsi said. ICA/Expat Media
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