Dubai police arrest man for professional begging to fund luxury lifestyle

Dubai police have arrested a man discovered to be using professional begging tactics to fund a luxury lifestyle. The individual, who reportedly owns three luxury cars, was caught during a crackdown on begging activities intensified during the month of Ramadan.

Brigadier Ali Al Shamsi, Director of the Criminal Suspicion and Phenomenon Investigation Department at Dubai Police, stated that the man used calculated methods and fabricated stories of hardship to exploit the compassion of residents. Al Shamsi described the behavior as a “professionally operated business aimed at making a profit.”

Authorities noted that approximately 90% of those arrested for begging entered the UAE on tourist visas, specifically targeting Ramadan when charitable giving is higher. Some individuals were found with thousands of dirhams; one person had collected 25,000 dirhams but continued to beg. Under UAE Federal Law No. 9 of 2018, offenders face up to three months in prison and a fine of 5,000 dirhams.