Originally Posted by
Hyperacusis
Yes - residence visa required for non-visa waiver countries, and yes - visa-waiver countries are eligible even if not residence visa holders (my s/o, who has an American passport but no residence visa like me, just got her E-Gate card no questions asked at DXB T1 departures).
Thanks for the information. I have Hong Kong passport, so, I guess I am eligible. How do you register at T1 departures? It would be very handy for long connection, and, I just realized some North American and European carriers refused to tag the bags on the EK flight from DXB if that is on a separate ticket!!!

I missed my EK connection at DXB last week due to the 2.5 - 3 hrs UAE immigration and I already left 5 hrs between flights.