'Tourist' beggars flock to Saudi, UAE during Ramzan
Synopsis
Local reports from Saudi Arabia and UAE have found that many beggars are coming to the gulf countries on visitors' visas during the month of Ramadan to take up begging outside mosques.
"Ninety per cent of the people we catch are here on tourist or visit visas, and are here to make money illegally by posing as beggars," a top Dubai police officer told local news channels.
The police investigation also found that there are even companies that offer people visas and places to stay for a price.
"Then everyday a bus takes these people and drops them off in different areas to beg, and comes back to take them, taking a sum of what they make out of their rounds daily,” Brigadier Ahmad Thani Bin Ghulaita Al Muhairi, Director of the Al Ghusais police station, told Gulf News.
According to a report by a Saudi charity group - Alwaleed Philanthropies, run by billionaire Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, more than 700 million riyals ($187 million) is made in Saudi Arabia every year from begging.
“These people pose as beggars. This is their ‘season’; they come during Ramadan, stay through Eid Al Fitr and until Eid Al Adha,” the report said.
Charity is one of the main principles of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month when Muslims around the world fast from dawn until dusk.