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Dubai Police arrest 13-member begging gang run by overseas ringleader
Police warned the public against sympathising with beggars or giving them money, urging residents not to be deceived by fabricated stories
- PUBLISHED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 1:39 PM UPDATED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 2:14 PM
The Dubai Police have arrested a 13-member begging gang led by a “ringleader operating from abroad”. The gang used various methods to exploit community members' emotions, claiming to be stranded in the country and in need of help, a top official said.
Police warned the public against sympathising with beggars or giving them money, urging residents not to be deceived by fabricated stories and tricks used to exploit compassion outside mosques, clinics, hospitals, markets and on streets.
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Brigadier Ali Salem Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspicious Persons and Criminal Phenomena Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said the arrests were made as part of the force’s ongoing ‘Combat Begging’ campaign.
The officer had earlier said that around 90 per cent of beggars arrested in the emirate enter the country on visit visas, deliberately choosing Ramadan to take advantage of residents' generosity. In an interview with Arabic daily Al Khaleej, he said police had caught a beggar who owned three luxury cars and admitted to amassing large sums of money by asking people for help. According to officials, the man would conclude his “begging shift” during the day, change his appearance and leave in a high-end vehicle.
Police have also previously arrested individuals carrying large amounts of cash. In one case, a beggar was found with Dh20,000 in a parking lot after targeting luxury car owners and motorists at traffic signals, claiming he needed money for food.
Similar incidents have been reported across the country. Ras Al Khaimah Police earlier announced the arrest of 19 beggars during Ramadan, including one individual found carrying Dh11,000.
Authorities have also warned that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in electronic begging schemes, with scammers fabricating medical emergencies or manipulating online charity appeals using images and videos designed to evoke sympathy.
Al Shamsi urged residents to report beggars through the 901 call centre, the ‘Police Eye’ service on the Dubai Police smart app, or the e-Crime platform.
Officials also encouraged the public to donate through official charitable channels to ensure assistance reaches those genuinely in need.
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.