Dubai Police warns: Beware of thieves acting as tourists

The UAE is considered one of the safest destinations for both expatriates and tourists. Crime rate in the country, including Dubai, is lower than many other places on earth, but it doesn’t mean everyone isn’t at risk for some kind of theft.
UAE residents have recently been advised to take precautions when they go out, or to be wary of fraudsters on the streets. They should be extra careful, especially when they’re approached by strangers.

In their latest advisory, the Dubai Police has indicated that some thieves are probably on the prowl in the city,  pretending to be tourists. They may approach any unsuspecting individual and pretend to ask about the latest foreign exchange rates.
“Beware of thieves acting as tourists, who enquire about currencies and exchange rates,” the Dubai Police said on Twitter.
It is not clear how these thieves exactly operate, but it’s better to be careful than be sorry.
According to the UAE’s Ministry of Interior, 98.6 per cent of residents still feel it is safe and secure to walk out at night in the UAE, making the country the world’s second safest place to live in.
“We are second after Singapore. UAE’s policies and strategies were behind the achievements to make the country one of the safest countries in the world,” said Lt General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of police and public security in Dubai last May.
The Dubai Police had said in January that the number of serious crimes committed in the emirate dropped by 15 per cent in 2017 when compared to a year earlier. The number of unsolved crimes also fell by 14 per cent during the same period.