Twelve beggars were arrested in Dubai on the first day of Ramadan.
Patrols have been intensified by Dubai Police as part of a major crackdown on the illegal practice.
The authority has urged the public not to show sympathy to such individuals, and instead, donate to official charities.
It has also called on people to report beggars to the toll-free number 901 or through the Dubai Police App's Police Eye service.
Colonel Ali Salem, director of the department of infiltrators at the Dubai Police, said that under their ‘Let’s Combat Begging’ campaign, an integrated security plan is in place to curb the practice.
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