If they give eGate to Aussies, (ie me), I'm pretty sure they'll even give it to you . You have to go and have your fingerprints taken, and some surly looking security guard taps away at a computer, does something to your card and then grunts and hands it back to you. Has worked like a charm everytime I have been to DXB...

Did you get yours in the arrivals section or in departures?

Just after departures, there's a little office to the right (or at least there was when I got it). Just ask one of the Immigration staff and they will grunt and point and send you in the right direction. One of the local Ambassadors will know - ie Khalid26, mrtdxb, GigoloArt etc

If you are departing out of the J/F terminal, it is to your right after you clear departure immigration before you go through security. Look for a little window with an officer sitting at a computer behind it.

I never knew that DXB had separate terminals for F/J and Y. Like I've said in an earlier thread, I've never left DXB airport as I have always travelled via DXB in transit!

My first trip in April is a personal trip and I am flying Y. Is there an e gate office in the 'cattle class' terminal.

If not I'll have to wait for my second trip in June in which I am flying J

As a Gold member, just use the J check in area...

good. I did'nt think about that.LOL. . I have never flown Ek in Y before and so never had to use the card at the check in desk/lounge. Looks like the gold card would finally be of some use.

With a British passport you will get one as you are in the waiver countries.

When you are lucky, yes. If not, just ask the officers for their colleague. The counter is always manned.

I have to say, having the eGate on the Skywards Gold card has repeatedly brought me into trouble. On several (unlucky) occasions, officials would not recognize or believe me that the Gold card is my egate:

- Abu Dhabi Immigration Officers when the egate didn't work (ok, 1-2 years ago)
- EK own's staff last week when my passport got deteriorated (unintentionally) after Saudi immigration and the staff almost denied me boarding since they were scared that I would not get into UAE land. They asked me if I had an egate card to enter the country. They wouldn't believe me that the Gold card is my egate (the little remark on the note is not clear). I passed, after some hard negotiations and because I knew the guy.

I have never used the Gold or Silver card as egates, always issued a separate one. Nowadays you can't even do that and residents/citizens have to enable their National ID as their egate.

To answer the questions:

Yes all 34 visa waiver country citizens can get egate cards issued at Dubai immigration counters only, Abu Dhabi will not issue them. There are counters located in Terminal 1 (upstairs next to the food court, before check-in) and at T3 F/J check-in area (after immigration , if the window is not manned, walk round through the door on the left and there will be an officer slouching at his desk looking very enthused) and before immigration at arrivals in T1. I think there is one more at T3 Y area but can't remember where. In addition, there are a few other counters in the city.

The card is valid for 2 years from date of issue and costs AED 210 (last I checked).

It's probably worth locking this thread... The information in the first post has changed. And was probably never true anyway, I suspect I just got a lazy immigration agent.

Just FYI... I just went to activate my e-gate for the first time last night. The agent told me that I need to renew it every 3 months and I was not charged any money to have it activated.

This doesn't sound typical does it?

If you used your Gold card then it would be free, but it should be valid for the length of your gold membership, not sure what this 3 months thing is

* This service is complimentary for Gold members and available at a redemption of 5,000 Skywards Miles for Silver members. Eligible Skywards Blue members and non-Skywards members pay the AED 200 fee and have the card issued.

Eligibility
All members residing in the United Arab Emirates, or nationals of the Gulf Co-operative Council or of the UAE's visa waiver countries* are eligible for the e-gate service.
* Eligible visa waiver countries as per Dubai Immigration Authority:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Vatican.

Activating your Skywards e-gate card
You can activate your e-gate* privileges by carrying the following to any of the issuing offices listed below:

your passport (with a validity of at least 6 months)
a passport size photograph
your Skywards Gold/Silver e-gate card
your previous e-gate card (if you have one)
* A Dhs 10 UAE government administration charge must be paid at the time of card activation.

Re-activating your Skywards e-gate card
Skywards Gold/Silver members who have retained their tier and are issued an e-gate enabled card will need to re activate their card for use at Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports. To re-activate carry the following to any of the issuing offices listed below:

your original passport (with a validity of at least 6 months)
your Skywards Gold/Silver e-gate card
your existing Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) number.

Issuing Offices:
Dubai International Airport
Arrivals Immigration Hall or Departure Lounge, near the food court on the 1st floor
Tel: + 971 4 206 1597

Dnata Travel Centre
Mezzanine Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road
Tel: + 971 4 316 6966

Dubai Municipality
Tel: + 971 4 206 4055

Jebel Ali Port
Passport Office
Tel: + 971 4 881 8777

Using e-gate
Upon receipt of your boarding card, simply approach the electronic gate and place your Skywards Gold/Silver card on the reader, located on the right side of the turnstile. When the first door closes, place your index finger on the finger print reader and proceed to your boarding gate. Upon re-entry, complete the same procedure. That's all there is to it! Always remember to carry your passport with you.

Lost Cards
Should your Skywards Gold/Silver card be lost or stolen, please call the Emirates contact centre immediately and we will advise the immigration authorities.