Difference between Smart Gates and eGates?
 

I am slightly confused by what the difference is :confused:

If I signed up to Smart Gates in Abu Dhabi, can I use Smart Gates when flying out of and into Dubai? It feels like Smart Gates is an Abu Dhabi thing, whereas eGates is a Dubai thing.

For what it's worth, I'm not a UAE resident nor am I enrolled with Skywards, meaning I would only have my ePassport not an e-gate card to use.

E-Gates are a program where the traveller has been heavily vetted by the UAE Authorities and a special card is issued allowing the user to clear customs at an automated Kiosk using a fingerprint rather than lining up and talking to an agent. E-Gate is only available to UAE citizens and residents and a few selected other categories. It is similar to Global Entry / EasyPass / Privium / Australian SmartGate.

SmartGate (UAE) is like the APC (Automated Passport Control) kiosks in the USA, whereby the implantation in the UAE allows all passport holder of Visa-Waiver or Visa-on-Arrival nations to use the SmartGates to electronically clear customs as well. And, like the US APC (not GlobalEntry) program, you do NOT need to pre-apply or have any special membership to use it.

And, much like entry to the US, you may be asking "what is the advantage of E-GATE over SmartGate - it looks like the same thing". Well, that may be true at the moment but as more and more people get shunted through the SmartGates, the queues will become longer and the advantage of E-Gates being a vetted program and thereby having shorter lines will re-emerge.

Also you can use the E-Gate system for departure customs clearance as well while there are no SmartGates installed for that purpose.

So for the moment it seems like E-Gates and SmartGates are essentially the same thing with E-gates promising faster clearance due to potentially shorter lines and also due to the vetting you have received when signing up for the program.

Thanks that's interesting

I think they are now one and the same at Dxb ie they do passports and cards - I'm not registered for smart gate but my emirates ID works for egate or smartgate so I don't have to get my skywards card programmed or an actual e-gate card anymore.

The eGate program vetting is not heavy at all :D

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...

I've always wondered, is it actually an iris scanner or is it using facial recognition?

Both, iirc.

Thanks. Really helpful!

Are there no Smart Gates on departure, not even out of Abu Dhabi?

I'm trying to avoid my passport getting clogged up with stamps...

Abu Dhabi has SmartGate for both departures and arrivals.

update?
 

To update this older thread. In 2017 on arrival in AUH airport I was enrolled without asking in the Smart Gates by an officer and a tiny sticker placed on the back of my US passport. I am a US citizen and US passport holder only. I didnt think anything of it as I hadnt planned on much travel through the UAE but now I find myself landing in DXB with a long layover and I could not find out whether this Smart Gate is the same as E-gate and if in fact whatever was done to activate my US passport in 2017 would still allow me to use the Smart Gate (if there is such a thing in DXB) or E-gate in DXB?

There's a similar looking machine at the entry to J lounge in B, T3 DXB. It's been there for a few weeks but not working yet.

So, instead of going to the regular que for an immigration officer, you go to the smart gate terminals and an officer will be attending that area too? I'm planning on doing this in November. I've been to Dubai four times, but always entered through the regular immigration que where they inspect your passport and take a photo.

The first time you go through, go to a normal queue and ask to be registered for SmartGates. They'll do that for you there and then, and put a sticker on the back of your passport. Subsequently, you can just use the smart gates.

Thank you DYKWIA!