Dubai Police Warn Against Begging During Ramadan Crackdown

Dubai Police have stepped up their annual anti-begging campaign as Ramadan 2026 is well underway, warning residents that begging is a criminal offence and urging the public to direct donations through licensed charities only.

The crackdown runs under the campaign slogan "An Aware Society Without Begging," implemented in cooperation with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority, and the Al Ameen service.

The warning follows a notable arrest. A man found carrying Dh20,000 in cash was apprehended in a public car park by officers from the Suspicious Persons and Criminal Phenomena Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation. According to Dubai Police, the suspect had been targeting owners of luxury vehicles at traffic lights and parking areas, using fabricated stories of poverty and hunger to solicit money. He was traveling around the city by bicycle.

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Brigadier Ali Salem Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspicious Persons and Criminal Phenomena Department, confirmed the arrest and cautioned residents against responding to such appeals.

"Beggars often use deceptive tactics to exploit sympathy at mosque entrances, hospitals, clinics, markets and streets," Al Shamsi said in an official statement. He added that there are official channels and charity organizations available for those genuinely seeking financial assistance.

In the first week of Ramadan 2026, Dubai Police arrested 26 individuals of various nationalities as part of the current campaign. For context, the force recorded 384 arrests during Ramadan 2024 and 499 in Ramadan 2023. Brigadier Al Shamsi noted that firm legal action has contributed to a steady yearly decline in begging cases.

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Begging Penalties Under UAE Law

Begging is illegal across the UAE. Individuals caught begging face up to three months in jail and a fine of Dh5,000. Penalties are significantly harsher for organized begging. Under Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, anyone who organizes begging involving two or more persons faces a minimum of six months in prison and a fine of no less than Dh100,000. Penalties are also harsher if the offender is a guardian or holds direct authority over the person begging.

Online begging carries its own legal consequences. Dubai Police's Cyber Crimes Department has warned residents against responding to social media appeals requesting money transfers to unknown accounts.

Electronic begging under the same federal law can result in up to three months in jail and fines starting from Dh10,000. In 2024, around 1,200 online begging cases were detected across the UAE. Police reiterated that donations and Zakat payments should be made exclusively through officially approved and licensed organizations.

Tactics Used to Exploit Ramadan Generosity

Ramadan is one of the most significant periods of charitable giving in the UAE, with residents and institutions contributing to a wide range of humanitarian causes throughout the holy month. Authorities say this generosity also makes the season a predictable target for organized begging networks, many of which operate with visitors entering the country on short-term visas specifically to exploit public goodwill.

Dubai Police have documented a range of deceptive methods used during the holy month. These include faking injuries, presenting bandaged arms alongside medical prescriptions to claim workplace accidents, and involving children, sick individuals, or people of determination to evoke sympathy. Several such cases have already been recorded in Ramadan 2026.

Previous enforcement operations have uncovered significant sums concealed by individuals posing as destitute. Cases on record include Dh25,000 hidden under a prayer mat and Dh300,000 discovered in an artificial limb. In May 2025, Dubai Police raided a hotel and arrested 41 Arab nationals on visit visas allegedly using the property as a coordinated base for begging operations. More than Dh60,000 was recovered in that operation.

Authorities have also warned about so-called "salaried beggars," individuals allegedly brought into the country and paid to solicit money, sometimes by faking illness or disability. A commonly reported approach involves someone approaching vehicles at traffic lights with a bandaged arm and a medical prescription, claiming a workplace injury and asking for financial help.

Residents are urged to report begging by calling the toll-free number 901, using the Police Eye feature on the Dubai Police app, or submitting online begging complaints through the e-Crime platform. Authorities stress that those in genuine need can seek assistance through official charitable organizations and government entities, ensuring aid reaches those who truly need it.

With Ramadan being a time of heightened generosity, Dubai Police are reminding the public that giving wisely and through verified channels is the most effective way to ensure donations make a real difference.