Penalties for begging in Saudi Arabia: Imprisonment, fines, and reporting methods

Saudi security authorities have renewed their strict warnings regarding the practice of begging, stressing their determination to apply legal penalties against violators, as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate this phenomenon that distorts the civilized appearance and exploits the emotions of benefactors.

Details of the penalty for begging and inciting begging

Saudi Arabia's Public Security Directorate, through its official social media accounts and under the hashtags "#Don'tGiveThem" and "#TogetherWeFightBegging," clarified that the law does not tolerate professional beggars. Regulations stipulate deterrent penalties for anyone who engages in begging, incites others to do so, agrees with them, or assists them in any way in this activity. These penalties include:

• Imprisonment: up to 6 months.
• Financial penalty: An amount of up to 50,000 Saudi Riyals.
• Or, both penalties may be applied together, depending on the assessment of the judicial authorities and the extent of the violation.

These penalties include residents and visitors, as non-Saudis who are found guilty of begging will be deported after serving their sentence, and will be banned from re-entering the Kingdom, except for performing Hajj or Umrah rituals according to specific regulations.

Context and objectives of the anti-begging system

These warnings are based on the "Anti-Begging Law" approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers, which aims to protect society from the security, social, and economic risks associated with this phenomenon. Authorities view begging not merely as a matter of financial need, but as an activity that may be linked to organized gangs exploiting children, people with disabilities, and women to elicit sympathy and collect money illegally.

Through this system, the Kingdom seeks to dry up the sources of unknown funds that may be used in suspicious activities, and to ensure that zakat and charity reach their actual beneficiaries through official and trusted channels.

Official donation channels and safe alternatives

In light of the Kingdom's digital transformation, the government has provided safe and reliable alternatives to ensure donations reach those in need, such as platform "Ihsan ," the "Shifa" platform, and other licensed organizations. Security authorities urge citizens and residents to direct their charitable giving through these channels to prevent begging from becoming a means of illicit gain.

Numbers for reporting beggars

Public security called on everyone to cooperate in combating this phenomenon by immediately reporting any cases of begging observed in public places, roads, or mosques, through the following communication channels:

• Areas (Makkah, Riyadh, Eastern): Call 911 .
• For the rest of the Kingdom: Call 999 .

Security authorities confirmed that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality, without any legal responsibility being imposed on the reporter, which enhances the role of community partnership in maintaining security and order.