The eGate program vetting is not heavy at all
In fact, if you register for eGate and your passport type allows it, you will automatically be enrolled into the Smartgate system.
What happens at the gates depends on what identity document is presented.
If you present an egate card - that can either be a UAE ID card with eGate service activated in the chip, an actual eGate card issued by DNRD, or a Skywards card with RFID eGate service enabled - then that will query the eGate database, and you present your fingerprints for access.
If you present a machine readable passport, then you will enter the electronic gate and present your iris for scanning at the camera.
However
B747-437B is the true expert here - this thread has the details:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...ate-q-s-3.html
As an aside, the T3 DNRD people said that only DNRD dnata on SZR and T1 will activate Skywards egate cards - but they could just be, err...busy...