I finally got around to getting my eGate, just 2 weeks ago - not a problem - at departures, just after passport control.

I do not have a UAE residency visa.

I did try around a month ago and was told to go to arrivals to get it done, he couldn't do it as I didn't have an arrivals stamp in my passport, I.e. I had an exit stamp - basically he couldn't be bothered to do it, more interested in texting.