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).
Is your s/o holding a Gold card or above with a card that shows a special logo? I do not recall I ever saw any Blue/Silver cards marked for E-Gate, my relative over in Dubai told me that eligible for E-gate has a E-gate logo at the back.