Originally Posted by edy4eva

Well, last time I did it, EK issues you a visa/hotel voucher (prior to departure of course) which you pick up at the local Emirates office, or at the airport.
Once you arrive into Dubai, you take the voucher into the arrivals hall (this is going through the old terminal, not sure where it is now) just before immigration; there you hand the voucher to an Emirates staff, who should get it validated before you could proceed to immigration.

Once you pass passport control you're free to do whatever you like, but of course you either pick up the bus to the hotel (free of course) or the arranged chauffeur car.

At the hotel, you will receive vouchers to cover either (arrivals drink/snack and/or dinner, breakfast, lunch) all depending on the time of the day. If you have an early morning departure, you won't get breakfast (the standard response will be: breakfast will be served on your flight) which is not always the case.