159 Beggars Arrested In Abu Dhabi In Major Crackdown

At least 159 beggars were arrested in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 6 to Dec. 12 this year. The arrests came as part of the UAE's ongoing campaign to crackdown on the rampant practice of begging in the country.

The Abu Dhabi Police issued a statement after the arrests, warning the public against believing fabricated stories posted on shop windows and doors of mosques. Police added they are only meant to gain sympathy and solicit money, Khaleej Times reported.

Police further explained the campaign is aimed at arresting beggars and preventing them from victimizing the public. They also urged the public to cooperate with the police in putting a stop to the practice by refraining from giving alms to beggars and turning them in to the authorities. By referring the money to official institutions and charities, the public can help the police ensure that donations are able to reach the right people, the authorities added.

Earlier this year, authorities in Sharjah reported the arrest of more than a thousand beggars and illegal street vendors in the city from January to October. According to police, 875 men and 236 women were arrested after being caught begging and illegally peddling water bottles, cigarettes, prayer beads, and counterfeit products on the streets. The police said most of the arrests were made on Oct. 26. Of the beggars arrested, 169 were held during Ramadan.

"Some beggars were caught claiming they were sick and in need of treatment they could not afford," Sharjah police said. "They even carried fake medical certificates to convince and trick people into paying them money."

Authorities have been doubling their efforts to crackdown on beggars and illegal street vendors in the country. "Special teams are working round the clock and their efforts have helped bring the number of crimes down because begging leads to crimes such as burglaries," Sharjah police said in a press release.

Beggars caught in the UAE can face up to three months in prison and a fine of at least Dh 5,000. Furthermore, people caught running professional gangs of beggars or recruiting people from outside the country to work as beggars in the UAE can also be jailed for six months and fined up to Dh 100,000.