Number of residency violators in Dubai increase

Dubai witnessed an increase in the number of people arrested for violating residency rule last month. About 576 people were held compared to 254  arrested in the emirate in December 2009, recording an increase of 126.7 per cent.

The monthly report by Markets Department of Dubai Municipality said among those arrested were 463 vendors including three women; 35 beggars (29 men and six women); 54 illegal car washers and 24 unlicensed butchers and fish cleaners.

The report mentioned Pakistanis topped the list with 271 offenders, followed by 248  Bangladeshis; 25 Indians; nine Afghanis; six Iranians; four each from China, Jordan, Syria and Somalia; two from Yemen and one from Oman. 

The campaign in December also resulted in the confiscation of thousands of materials, including 1,600 pieces of ready-made garments; phones and perfumes, 6,484 CDs of movies; 254 porno films; 1,260 food items (vegetables and fruits), and 529 bottles of alcohol and 156 beer cans.

Obaid Al Marzouqi, Head of Markets Department, Dubai Municipality, said the campaign led to the increase in the number of those arrested.