Riyadh: Around 60,000 beggars were arrested by the Riyadh police since the start of the Hijri year (December 2009), an official at Riyadh Police department said in a statement.

The official said 67 per cent of those arrested were foreign nationals while 33 per cent were Saudis.

The number of beggars in Saudi Arabia increases during Ramadan and the annual pilgrimage season.

Authorities have intensified the campaigns to curb the number of beggars, among them children, which increased during t Ramadan and Haj.
 
In Riyadh, beggars can be spotted near mosques, outside shopping malls and near traffic signals.

Saudis who have been caught begging are often referred to the Ministry of Social Affairs which will then study their cases and take necessary action including providing assistance.

Expatriate beggars are meanwhile turned over to the concerned authorities to process their deportations to their countries of origin.

Officials blame the Saudis for the increase in the number of beggars, saying their sympathy has encouraged mendicancy.