Dubai police monitor unfair competition

Dubai: Police have arrested 19 people who follow tourists at trading squares and direct them to specific shops in order to gain a commission from the store owners.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Rashid Al Muhairi, Director of Dubai Police's Tourist Security Department at CID, said these people were not licensed to do the job because they had entered the country on visit visas. He pointed out that many of them were Russian.

Lieutenant Colonel Al Muhairi said the work carried out by these people also contributes to unfair competition between traders. He said these people also annoy tourists and wait for their buses at stations.

Warning

"Police monitor these people ... they were warned the first time and caught again for repeating their acts," Lieutenant Colonel Al Muhairi said. He added that owners of private vehicles cannot use them to make money.

"The owners of private vehicles cannot transfer tourists from one place to another for money. Lately, we caught one person who worked at a hotel and used the car of one of his female friends to transfer tourists from one place to another for Dh150," Lieutenant Colonel Al Muhairi said.

He said when a complaint came to the police, the person was caught and fired from his job and the money was returned to its owner.

Lieutenant Colonel Al Muhairi said police personnel are constantly present and cooperate with members of society.