Dubai Police Arrest Indian Expat Accused of Defrauding UAE Nationals for Haj Pilgrimage

The Dubai Police have arrested an Indian expatriate, Shabin Rasheed, who runs the Sharjah-based Baitul Ateeq travel agency, on charges of defrauding 150 UAE nationals. Rasheed is accused of accepting advance payments amounting to 3 million dirhams for a Haj pilgrimage that never materialized. He initially apologized for the situation, claiming last-minute visa issuance changes caused the issues and promised refunds.

However, when refunds did not materialize, residents filed a police complaint. Rasheed later stated that he is selling his property in India for refunds and exploring a compensation case against a Saudi company, citing financial loss, defamation, and emotional damage.

Baitul Ateeq representatives have informed clients that they can’t respond to refund progress until Rasheed’s release, and they are working with a partner in Saudi Arabia to refund clients. Some clients have only received partial refunds, and it’s unclear how many police complaints were filed against the company.