Iran polls: Turnout in Dubai twice as much as earlier

Dubai: A turnout of at least twice as much as previous Iranian elections was expected at polling centres for Iranian voters in the UAE on Friday, according to an Iranian consulate official in Dubai.

Watch video: Iranians in the UAE go to polls

Iranian residents of Dubai continued to stream in to the polling centre at the Iranian consulate in the emirate until polls closed on Friday.

Ali Naragi, Deputy Consul General said that the turnout in the UAE this year was expected to be twice as much as previous elections. "Iranians are voting in five election centres in the UAE, with most in Dubai," he said. "We are expecting a 100 per cent increase in voters in these elections from the last elections four years ago".

The heavy turnout caused a traffic jam on Al Wasl road, where the consulate is located. A number of police vehicles were seen outside the embassy.

Journalists working for non-Iranian news outlets were welcomed but each reporter and photographer was assigned a minder, or "guide" who escorted them throughout the consulate.

Both the men's and women's voting areas were full until polls closed. No voting booths were provided. Voters had to fill in their ballots, prove their identities and stamp their fingerprints on their ballots before dropping them in the boxes. Some paused to say quick prayers before dropping their ballots.

All of those who spoke to Gulf News said they would vote for reformist frontrunner Mir Hussain Musavi, who served as prime minister during the eight year Iran-Iraq war. Most said they supported his relatively liberal agenda, and his support for the concerns of youth.

Fakhreddin M, a 27 year old resident of Dubai, said many Iranians in the UAE supported Musavi. "Last night almost 300 people held a support rally for Musavi outside the Iranian club and the consulate. Everyone was wearing green, Musavi's campaign colour," he said.

Many also said that Iran needed a president who would have a "responsible" foreign policy that would work to improve ties with the international community.

Iraj Solaimani, a thirty-year resident of Dubai who works in the travel industry, said he was concerned about Iran's relations with the West "and with its neighbours in the Gulf".

Some women wore black chadors revealing only their faces and other came showing long and often dyed hair, only to quickly cover it up with a scarf before entering the consulate of the Islamic Republic. Some women could be seen wearing long coats to cover their bare arms and legs before stepping in.

Towards the closing of the polls, a tall woman with long and curly dirty blonde hair walked towards the consulate hand in hand with her partner. Upon reaching, she was forced to part from him to stand in the women's queue. As she approached the security guard, he shyly circled his finger around his face, asking her to cover up. She shrugged and then gave in, apparently agreeing to put it on once inside.

Some voters even brought their children, who took the opportunity to play with other children. One was heard asking another: "Are you supporting Musavi, too?"