Dubai arrests 4,200 illegal workers amid crackdown

Dubai Municipality arrested 4,200 illegal labourers including beggars, car washers and resellers, last year as part of a crackdown on threats to the UAE, state news agency WAM said.

Authorities in the emirate urged residents not to employ illegal workers, particularly during Ramadan when the problem increases, said Obaid Ibrahim Al Marzouqi, head of markets section.

“I request the public to cooperate with civic body to fight against offenders who pose a threat to the security of the country. The public should avoid using illegal labourers as they distort the overall view of the emirate, and most of them entered the country illegally,” he said.

“This phenomenon increases during Ramadan and festival seasons,” he added.

Arrests carried out last year include the seizure of 78,765 types of pirated obscene films, carts to sell vegetables, illegal funds to collect donations and alcoholic drinks, authorities said.

In total 3,004 unlicensed vendors and porters were arrested while 536 beggars, 188 butchers and 472 car washers were apprehended.