I visited the T1 air-side desk earlier in the week and guy said that it was open all the time.

He took my Gold card and placed on the scanner and added the e-gate functionality to work in T1. It now works inbound and outbound there. (It works by placing it on top of the beds at the e-gates, not by sliding it inside.)

He wasn't really responsive when I asked whether it would work in Abu Dhabi now too. I assume not, but I should get a chance to check later in the year.

Yes it does

This is for smartgate and not the egate. Confusing I know but separate systems

I thought that they were separate systems as well but I've just got off a flight and used my gold card in the new smartgate and it worked fine...

Did you use a fingerprint to confirm your ID in the Smartgate? Thanks.

Yes, I did - the overall procedure was just like a normal egate. I put my card on the reader, next to where some people put their passport, then the gates opened and I stepped through to where the footprints are. For a moment I was worried because it asked me to look into the camera for my eye scan but then the computer screen flickered and asked me for a fingerprint, which opened the second gate.

That would kill that benefit (E-gates) don't you think ? But smoother immigration pain anyhow.

Thanks - will try it next time. Will save me a walk from the train escalator into Immigration all the way to the left for the eGates.

That's what happened to me yesterday. Walked all the way over to the egates to find that they were covered in scaffolding. I asked one of the helpers what to do and she directed me to the smartgates.

Depends if there are queues at Smartgates and if eGates are removed. If no queues at Smartgate then benefit still applies except some might think the payment for a dedicated eGate card was a waste of money. If eGates remain then all good too - especially as there are eGates in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and no sign of Smartgates yet.

The Smartgates are so in front of the exit that some people are queuing just to realize they're in the wrong line... and as there is only one line for all the smart gates, then they had to escape :confused:

Same at the egates at F / J departures this morning. Everyone trying to use them by scanning their BP only realising 10 minutes later they have to join the standard queue.

I have an egate and used it fine for the last year, the wife has just changed jobs and her egate no longer works (big problem as we are travelling over eid!).

I think dnata will charge another 200aed so what s the deal with smart gates? I've never seen them as I head left for the egate and don't look back! Where do you go and how do you set it up? We are both residents here (and gold but can't be bothered finding an office as the cards expire in April and don't want to do it again)...

Resident cards works in the Smartgates directly.

Thank you very much for your help!


[QUOTE=Thanh Viet;21283283]Uh... It's free for Golds.

If at the airport, get out... Go to the departure entrance doors (close to drop off area). There's a big yellow desk in the middle before the checking area, with emiratis in traditional outfit. That's the right place.
10mn to get their attention, 2 mn to issue it. Passport and Gold card needed.