Middle East - Which Immigration Desk at Dubai?

Can anyone advise which immigration desk/line one can use at DXB when holding a GCC Resident Visa? Can one use the GCC Nationals desk/line? Many thanks.

I doubt it, however if you're a member of a UAE visa waiver country (which I assume you are since you don't mention a UAE visa), you can get an e-gate card to speed entry and exit.

I doubt it, however if you're a member of a UAE visa waiver country (which I assume you are since you don't mention a UAE visa), you can get an e-gate card to speed entry and exit.

Oh, that sounds great. So if I had a Qatari Residence Visa I could use e-gate at DXB?

The Qatari residency visa doesn't get you anything in the UAE as far as I know.

The ability to get e-gate depends on the passport you hold. If you're a citizen of one of the 33 countries with a visa waiver, you can get an e-gate card for Dubai.

The Qatari residency visa doesn't get you anything in the UAE as far as I know.

The ability to get e-gate depends on the passport you hold. If you're a citizen of one of the 33 countries with a visa waiver, you can get an e-gate card for Dubai.

UK passports get e-gate then.

Sounds great but I have not found that information definitively stated eleswhere. Will investigate further. Thanks.

Sounds great but I have not found that information definitively stated eleswhere. Will investigate further. Thanks.

Definitively stated? In the Middle East?

Some discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emirates-airlines-skywards/684920-e-gate-now-only-uae-residents.html
and here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emirates-airlines-skywards/1106396-my-egate-linked-someone-elses-visa.html

You cannot use the GCC Nationals desk if you are merely a GCC Resident, unfortunately.

I don't believe that anyone besides a UAE Resident can get the e-gate, unless one is an Emirates Skywards Gold member and national of a visa waiver country.

That's at least according to one official source of information:
Dubai government (http://www.dubai.ae/en.portal?topic,Article_000551,1,&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=home)

But, as typical mentions, you never know, though no counter-example has revealed himself/herself on FlyerTalk as far as I can tell.

Ok, many thanks for the updates guys but now I do have the definitive (for me & Mrs. NoY annyhow :)) answer.

A UK passport DOES qualify for e-gate. We now have in our posession e-gate cards which are valid for 2 years each ^

Did this at DXB T1 (upper level) where there are dedicated e-gate desks. Process took 10 minutes each - and we walked away with the cards - which in itself is a nothing short of a miracle for any UAE-based beauracracy that I have encountered here :D Brilliant service indeed. This will reduce my weekly commute times massively as the lines at immigration are nuts most days. e-gate is usually empty.

Should work for any of the 33 (?) visa-on-arrival passport holders.

Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help :D

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.

Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help :D

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.

Thank you.

Very happy :D

Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help :D

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.

Great news. Thanks, NoY, for the information.

great in theory, but last year the e gate system was down on 4 out of 5 of my trips through!
Although you can get your pp stamped at the e gate line in the normal fashion and still less of a queue!