E-Gate registration process
 

Removed post as no longer current

Does this mean that if we have an existing e-gate card (that has not expired) that we can still use it? And yes, it really sucks that you have to be a resident in order to benefit from not having to stand in line!!

I have kept a few and take them "just in case", however lately there is never anyone monitoring the fast track lines.

That really sucks ... I just got my Gold card a few months back :(

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/161)

Well at least it is only on arrival, that queues are long.. Assuming you a departing through the EK F/J check in zone. It's a shame, I assume too much fraud been going on.

I got the following message when I logged onto Skywards today:

We're delighted to announce that your Skywards Gold card now supports Dubai Immigration's e-technology providing e-gate privileges at Dubai International Airport.

This complimentary service makes your Skywards Gold card even more useful, as one card provides exceptional Gold privileges and e-gate technology. After completing the activation process, you will be able to sail through entry and exit procedures at Dubai International Airport in as little as 5 seconds using your Skywards Gold card. To find out more click here

The follow-up info states E-gate is available for all UAE visa waiver country residents. Is this just out of date or a revision back to the former rules?

Cheers.

Should not be a problem for the 33 visa waiver countries

http://www.dnrd.gov.ae/dnrd/E-Servic...te/Default.htm

That seems to be the "official" line, but I trust first hand reports like Rick's over any website. But I'm curious whether this policy has now reverted to the original incarnation.

I might have to actually pick up the phone rather than surf FT.

I'm going to try again next time in I'm in Dubai (in a couple of weeks). Maybe I just got a inexperienced agent...

Has anybody else tried recently?

Cheers,
Rick

I plan on going tonight (lived here for over 1 year and never bothered to go get it)- dont know if they are open 24hrs? I have a UAE residencey visa but will ask the questions as that visa will soon be revoked when I move to MRU in 8 weeks.

I renewed by e-gate card at the airport last night, as it was close to expiry.. no problem with me being a non resident, just a visitor. AED 200 and five mins of my time. Easy.

bvms
 

if you still have your old skywards e-gate card. u can still use it.
if you don't believe me try it.

I hope u didn't throw away your old skywards e gate card did u? I still use my old 2007 ek skywards card. I used it yesterday happily.

when I read the news. I simply kept my mouth shut and used my old card. and whallah! it still works!

Mine worked for about a month after it expired, but then stopped working.

Cheers,
Rick

Just resurrecting this old thread.

I've just got my Silver card (didn't make Gold this year), and the renewal letter states that I can now use my E-Gate privileges on my Silver card. It even states my DNRD number that I should state to get it renewed.

So, it looks like I was given duff information last year.

Note that you can now get E-Gate on your silver card if you get 5000 Skywards miles.

Cheers,
Rick

And to confirm... I was able to get E-Gate on my Silver card. So I was given duff information last year.

So, another year of not having to queue :)

Cheers,
Rick

Just wanted to add, getting an e-gate for non-residents is not a problem. I didn't feel like using 5,000 miles so I spent the 200 AED for two years. Just got it less than two weeks ago, without any problems. Yes, I am from a visa-waiver country. And, the clerk did ask me if I had a UAE visa; after I said no, he thought about it for a moment and then proceeded with the application. Weird!

-t.

I just got mine today...walked in and out within 10 minutes. I was told that when I get my residence visa, which will happen sometime during the summer months, that I'll have to come back in surrender my old one and get issued a new resident one. And repay the 200dhs.

That's just what happened to me last year, except the clerk said 'No'.

I think it also helped this time that I had the renewal notice with my ID number, so it didn't take more that a few minutes to process.

Cheers,
Rick

I don't have a UAE residence visa, but am considering getting one for future purposes. I was told, however, at e-gate, that once my status changes, I would need to get the card re-issued BUT THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE.

Rick - Weird, I really just don't like a system where a point person (most usually just a clerk) has such decision-making abilities. And, if he would have said no, there is nothing I could have done, even if his decision was arbitrary. Oh well :-)

By the way, for the renewal, did you have to get re-fingerprinted, etc? Or, do you just pay the fee and 'be on your way'?

-t.

No, I didn't have to be photographed or fingerprinted. They just transferred the existing information.

Cheers,
Rick

I guess its who you are talking to then. The lady who processed my application asked me if I wanted to wait so I wouldn't have to repay. I guess I'll find out in a few months.

For me it seems quiet impossible to get the registration:

I tried 3 times in the last 4 month to get it at the arrival hall: all 3 times the registration point was without a person (6 am in the morning, but it is a main arrival time in DXB and it says staffed 24 hours).
So I tried the departure hall before my flight back last tuesday. Good luck: three ladys waiting for me! I gave them my documents, but after checking my passport they refused, because during my visit to the UAE I left and entered the country for a visit to Oman. They only can give me the e-pass when I enter the UAE at the airport, not on the road!!
So I have to try the next time (or may be not, because enough is enough):mad:.

I entered the UAE the other day using my egate. No problems, let me right in. I'm here on a tourist visa awaiting either to get a job or for my marriage certificate to be attested. Heres my question- how do I prove I have a visa and am here legally? For instance, I was going to get a temporary drivers license, as we are buying a car shortly. However, I need to bring a copy of my visa. Well, I don't have a visa stamped in my passport. How do I prove I'm in the country legally if someone asks? Anyone experience this?

You need a residence visa to purchase a car here.

I'm aware of that, thanks; wasn't my question. My husband already has his residence visa. I'm waiting to find out if I have a job and will be on my own visa or for my marriage certificate to be attested be under his.

I thought you always had to be resident. I assume you got fingerprinted? My eGate card always lets me through the doors, but my finger print usually fails and they have to scan my residency visa and stamp my passport.... still better than standing in line tho.

How are you planning to get one... they are not available by request. ;)

HAHA thank you very much for your concern. I was actually planning on just going to the airport and requesting one, but now that you have clarified this for me, I guess I will have to figure out some other way.. lol j/k

Seriously though... We have some freehold properties in Dubai and are eligible for residency visa through them. My agent has already spoken to the developer, who has/will approve it. I don't really have a need for it. Oh ya, just to clarify for anyone that cares, residence visas through property ownership DO NOT come with employment privileges.

-t.

I recently tried my E-Gate (not a resident of DXB but through Skywards Gold) and i was told the rules for visitors have been changed and to go and re register at immigration. Didnt get time to do so this trip but back in 2 weeks so will do so then!

yes mine was rejected at e-gate the other week, will have to go re-register..

It probably depends on who serves you. I have just got residency and applied for the e-gate card. Was told that i could still use my Skywards Gold it would just need updating and save 200dhs. Asked about the problem with skywards e-gate only being for residents and she said no. There were a couple of guys in front of me who were issued with e-gate for their silver cards, had to pay though.

Observations
 

Here's a bit of an update and a word of potential caution:

a. Arrived at DXB, used e-gate, no problem at all. I am a passport holder of a visa-waiver country, not a uae resident. I have heard many have had problems with having their card rejected... I was expecting the same and was kind of surprised to see the doors open... lol

b. More importantly... I landed in DXB on August 10 and used my e-gate. On August 13, I drove from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to catch an EY flight. After checking in, I went to use my e-gate card to leave AUH but it kept denying me so I finally went to the passport control counter with my boarding pass, passport and e-gate card in hand.

The individual serving first looked through my passport for an arrival stamp, which he of course could not find. I informed him that there would not be one because I used e-gate when arriving in Dubai.

He then explained that while e-gate is issued to non-residents in Dubai, only residents can use this facility in Abu Dhabi and other emirates. I said thank you for explaining this and letting me know.

Then, when trying to 'exit' me from the UAE using my passport, it took him 93 (yes, ninety-three) minutes to be able to issue me an exit stamp on my passport. This, to me, sounds pathetic. In Dubai, even when I have entered using e-gate, they have been able to stamp my passport on the exit within 10 seconds.

It took 4 people and 15-plus calls to passport control at AUH, e-gate office in Dubai, and Ministry of Interior to be able to 'grant' me exit from the UAE.

It almost appeared to them that I had 'illegally' entered the UAE and was now trying to officially leave. I showed him my EK boarding pass showing that I did indeed arrive in DXB on August 10.

After them scrambling around to do whatever they needed to, the gentleman that was assisting me said, "were is not for your old boarding pass, we would not have let you leave UAE"... ...?

To me, this seems simple. If you do not see an entry stamp, you ask for a reason. If this does not work, you call e-gate for verification of usage/entry. If this is validated, issue an exit stamp and create an 'exit report' on your system.

-t.

Thanks for that. It would explain why my e-gate was rejected when I recently arrived in Shajah.

Cheers,
Rick

Wowzy! 93 minutes!
Did they serve you coffee/drink while you waited?

Unfortunately, they did not. It was EY245, so it was out of terminal 1A, which is pretty much as bare-bones as a terminal can get. They just offered me a seat in the check-in area while they 'worked things out'... lol

I calculated it was near 93 minutes because they finally let me go at 1615 and the flight was ready to take off at 1625, with EY still keeping my luggage on standby.

-t.

Left DXB on July 30 and used E-gate no problem

Returned August 13 and "Accessed Denied" went to counter and passport was stamped-- I asked if there was a problem and he said to speak to the e-gate people-- itwas midnight so I will do it thie week when leaving for JED. I do not have residency visa but am visa waiver country. It "could" be that my passport was due to expire in 3 months and 7 days and they wanted to check? It is now extended so I will have to visit them anyway.

I arrived back in the DXB last Tuesday and I also got the "Access Denied" message when using my e-gate card. I was told to go to an e-gate office. I am from a visa waiver country and do not have a residency visa.

I went to the e-gate office and they renewed my card without many problems. She showed me the computer screen where she had to issue me a new visa number and then she asked me if i knew that the visa has change to 30 days instead of 60 days.

Maybe they cancelled all 60 days non-residency e-gate cards, so that they can be renewed to the new 30 day visa. If they would just update the records in their computers, the person with the e-gate card will not have been informed that their visa has been reduced to 30 days and they might have problems with people overstaying without them knowing.

I had this too last week- and it was onfirmed that it just beeded to get renewed as it is a visit visa.

Has this issue re-surfaced???

A friend of mine was denied EXIT at DXB today when he went to use his e-gate that he arrived on 3 week ago. E-gate immigration agent said e-gate card expired on Feb 22 and that he had to go to e-gate-- and not just atmp him out as he arrived on e-gate. When he went to e-gate they tried to get him out with a "letter" showing his arrival by e-gate but no avail and then he waas told by both Immigration and E-gate (Terminal 1) that e-gate is only for Residence Visa holders. :confused:

I renewed (new Gold Card) 4 weeks ago with no problem and on visit visa. And I am in T3 lounge now.

He was still denied exit until his bags had been off loaded (Virgin) and then one of the immigration officers agreed as a one off to stamp him out. When asking about catching an EK flight immigration officer said he could not help with the problem if it arose at T3-- I told him he must of had some bad luck -

So... anyone else heard anything about the old Residents only issue coming back... I think this will go away- but raise the issue just incase. He is trying again tomorrow and wil let you know what I hear. (I was going to ask at E-gate T3 - but for the sake of my 2 week trip I decided not to--- just in case :) )

I went to the egate counter at immigration in Jebel Ali.. and told them I was planning to cancel my residence Visa.. and if my egate would work.

He explained that once the Residence Visa would be canceled I would have to leave the country.. and re-enter the traditional way.. but after re-entry I would have to stop back in and get a new card (free of charge) to re-use my egate... he said that this was only available to a citizen of one of the 33 privileged countries.