Iranian expats in the UAE recently participated in a crucial election to choose the successor to former President Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in May. The Iranian missions reported a good turnout of expats who exercised their rights to shape the future of their country. One expat named Saleh emphasized the importance of voting in such a critical time for the nation, expressing hopes for stability and progress.
Iranian expats aged 18 years and above were eligible to vote at the Iranian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai by presenting their national identity card or passport. Special desks and counters were set up to facilitate a seamless voting process, with residents depositing their ballots in a sealed box. Iranian Ambassador Reza Ameri highlighted the significance of the early presidential elections held in about 95 countries, including the UAE, where a significant number of Iranians reside.
Ambassador Ameri noted that there are about half a million Iranians in the UAE, with the majority residing in Dubai. While there were two centers in the UAE, 60,000 polling centers were set up outside Iran to accommodate the voting process. Moreover, he mentioned that while voting is primarily conducted via paper ballots outside Iran, some areas have implemented electronic voting procedures. Ameri mentioned that the embassies and consulates abroad will not directly announce the final election results, as they report the results to the election center in Iran for the government to officially announce.
The polls opened at 8 am local time in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and closed at 6 pm. Despite a decent turnout at the missions, some expats did not vote due to reasons like work commitments, job scarcity, price hikes, and political instability. One expat named Reza expressed the need for good leaders and hopes for positive changes in the future. The expat community in the UAE showed their participation in the Iranian presidential elections, reflecting their commitment to shaping the future of their home country.
