Photo has been used for illustrative purpose.

In a tweet posted on its account on Wednesday, the UAE Public Prosecution on Wednesday clarified the penalty for begging.

It pointed out that in accordance with Article 475 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 for 2021, a jail term of no more than three months and a fine of no less than Dhs5,000 will be imposed on whoever commits the crime of begging with the aim of obtaining a financial or in-kind benefit in any form whatsoever.

It is considered an aggravating circumstance if the beggar has a good health condition and an apparent means of subsistence or if he has a faked injury or permanent disability, pretended to perform a service for others or used any other means of deception with the intention of eliciting the sympathy of others.

These clarifications come as part of the UAE Public Prosecution’s ongoing campaign to enhance the legal culture, keep people abreast of all UAE new and updated legislation and raise public awareness of the law so as to become a lifestyle.     

WAM