UAE's Turkish residents tell of divided nation amid election uncertainty

President Erdogan receives strong support from diaspora, but many voters are still undecided

People walk under posters showing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara. The country is holding its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote in the May 14 election. Getty

A couple walk under a poster of Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, the day after the general election, in Ankara. EPA

People sit on a bench by posters showing Mr Kilicdaroglu in Ankara. Getty

The bustling Taksim area of Istanbul. Turkey will hold its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote this week. Getty

People eat ice cream in Istanbul as the country prepares for an election run-off later this month. Getty

People stand in front of the Guven Monument in Ankara. Getty

The second round of voting will be held on May 28. Getty

A passenger reads a newspaper on a ferry across the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Bloomberg

Politics dominates the headlines in Istanbul on the day after the presidential elections. AP

A billboard featuring presidential candidate Mr Kilicdaroglu in Istanbul. AP

A run-off for the presidency was expected to lead to volatility for the Turkish lira. AP

Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gather at the AK Party's headquarters in Istanbul on election night. Getty

Mr Erdogan, accompanied by his wife Emine, addresses supporters in Ankara. Photo: Turkish Presidential Press Office

Election officials count ballots in Diyarbakir after polls closed in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. AFP

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, speaks to the media in Ankara. EPA

Mr Erdogan's supporters wave flags outside the AK Party's headquarters in Ankara. Reuters

Mr Erdogan casts his vote in Istanbul on Sunday. Getty

Mr Kilicdaroglu votes in Ankara. Getty

People wait for Mr Erdogan outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

A man holds a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

A ballot paper featuring candidates for Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. Reuters

Voting began in Turkey's presidential election on Sunday morning. Reuters

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

Hatay is one of the Turkish regions that were worst-affected by February's earthquake. Reuters

Voters take a closer look at the candidates on the ballot, in Ankara. Getty

A ballot paper with Mr Erdogan, Muharrem Ince, Mr Kilicdaroglu and Sinan Ogan. Getty

Voters queue outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

Bags containing blank ballots are stored at a temporary polling station in the courtyard of a quake-damaged school in Hatay. Reuters

An election worker prepares a temporary polling station in Hatay. Reuters

Turkish residents in the UAE say opinion is split over the future direction of the country as a crunch election remains on a knife-edge, despite a record turnout from voters.

Long-serving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday won 49.4 per cent of the votes, short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to clinch victory in the first round.

His opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secured 44.96 per cent, while third-placed candidate Sinan Ogan had 5.2 per cent.

The turnout was a record-high 88.8 per cent.

The result means that the election will go to a run-off between Mr Erdogan and Mr Kilicdaroglu on May 28, the first in Turkey's history.

A run-off vote takes place when no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the presidential vote.

Turkish citizens who live in the UAE said the results are a clear indication of how their country is split by Mr Erdogan's leadership.

"Turkey is a divided country," said Kemal Yazici, owner of Bedia Art Gallery in Dubai's Al Quoz, adding that people are confused after the results.

"A lot of people want a change and are voting for Kilicdaroglu. At the same time, Erdogan is dearly loved by many people and they want him to win," Mr Yazici told The National.

He said that people appreciate Mr Erdogan's strong leadership and how he has developed the economy, infrastructure and public health.

"Many people believe that he [Erdogan] has done a lot for the country," Mr Yazici said. "The results so far point to another win for him as the President."

The divisions, he said, would split the vote between the two main contenders.

"It's complex politics," Mr Yazici said. "We have so many ethnic groups and they all think differently. The Turkish diaspora are also divided."

There are an estimated 3.4 million Turkish citizens living abroad, most of whom in Europe voted for Mr Erdogan.

In Germany, where the Turkish community of three million is the largest expatriate group, Mr Erdogan was ahead with 65 per cent of votes to 33 per cent for Mr Kilicdaroglu.

Mr Erdogan led by wide margins among Turkish voters in Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and France, while Mr Kilicdaroglu led among those in the UK and Switzerland.

In the UAE, Turkish voters were split. According to poll carried out by Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, Mr Kilicdaroglu won 69.8 per cent of votes in Dubai, while Mr Erdogan won 50.8 per cent in Abu Dhabi.

"I was awake all night following the results and I am not happy that we have a run-off," said Mr Yazici. "But we will definitely vote again as it is our responsibility as Turkish citizens."

Serhat Suha, a Turkish resident and senior fellow at UAE-based think tank Trends, said the results also did not come as a surprise to him.

"Erdogan is a shrewd politician," he told The National. "He would not have announced his candidacy if he were not confident about his win."

Mr Suha believes Mr Erdogan won votes by tapping into identity politics and hyper nationalism.

In contrast, he said, the six-party coalition organised under Mr Kilicdaroglu's banner is difficult to hold together.

"People saw fragility and weakness in them," Mr Suha said. "Erdogan knows how to appeal to the emotions of people. He plays to a loyal, conservative voter group in the Anatolian heartland, while his rival gains sympathy from working middle-class and liberal people in coastal cities.

"There are people who are worried about democracy and freedom, but that is still a minority," he said.

Another Turkish resident in Dubai, who declined to be named, told The National that the election is about continuity versus change.

He said that the second round of elections will be "neck-and-neck" but should result in a conclusive victory for one candidate.

"One thing is clear: Turkish people still have an emotional connection to Erdogan that no other leader can claim," he said.

"People still think of him as their leader. Even with a strong rival, his vote share has not dipped considerably."