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Which Immigration Desk at Dubai?

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Old Jul 7, 2011, 10:43 am
  #1  
NoY
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Which Immigration Desk at Dubai?

Can anyone advise which immigration desk/line one can use at DXB when holding a GCC Resident Visa? Can one use the GCC Nationals desk/line? Many thanks.
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Old Jul 8, 2011, 8:24 am
  #2  
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I doubt it, however if you're a member of a UAE visa waiver country (which I assume you are since you don't mention a UAE visa), you can get an e-gate card to speed entry and exit.
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Old Jul 8, 2011, 11:10 pm
  #3  
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Originally Posted by typical
I doubt it, however if you're a member of a UAE visa waiver country (which I assume you are since you don't mention a UAE visa), you can get an e-gate card to speed entry and exit.
Oh, that sounds great. So if I had a Qatari Residence Visa I could use e-gate at DXB?
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Old Jul 8, 2011, 11:31 pm
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The Qatari residency visa doesn't get you anything in the UAE as far as I know.

The ability to get e-gate depends on the passport you hold. If you're a citizen of one of the 33 countries with a visa waiver, you can get an e-gate card for Dubai.
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 12:17 am
  #5  
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Originally Posted by typical
The Qatari residency visa doesn't get you anything in the UAE as far as I know.

The ability to get e-gate depends on the passport you hold. If you're a citizen of one of the 33 countries with a visa waiver, you can get an e-gate card for Dubai.
UK passports get e-gate then.

Sounds great but I have not found that information definitively stated eleswhere. Will investigate further. Thanks.
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 12:55 am
  #6  
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Originally Posted by NoY
Sounds great but I have not found that information definitively stated eleswhere. Will investigate further. Thanks.
Definitively stated? In the Middle East?

Some discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...residents.html
and here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...lses-visa.html
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 1:24 am
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You cannot use the GCC Nationals desk if you are merely a GCC Resident, unfortunately.

I don't believe that anyone besides a UAE Resident can get the e-gate, unless one is an Emirates Skywards Gold member and national of a visa waiver country.

That's at least according to one official source of information:
Dubai government

But, as typical mentions, you never know, though no counter-example has revealed himself/herself on FlyerTalk as far as I can tell.
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 7:33 am
  #8  
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Ok, many thanks for the updates guys but now I do have the definitive (for me & Mrs. NoY annyhow ) answer.

A UK passport DOES qualify for e-gate. We now have in our posession e-gate cards which are valid for 2 years each ^

Did this at DXB T1 (upper level) where there are dedicated e-gate desks. Process took 10 minutes each - and we walked away with the cards - which in itself is a nothing short of a miracle for any UAE-based beauracracy that I have encountered here Brilliant service indeed. This will reduce my weekly commute times massively as the lines at immigration are nuts most days. e-gate is usually empty.

Should work for any of the 33 (?) visa-on-arrival passport holders.
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 7:35 am
  #9  
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Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.
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Old Jul 9, 2011, 8:17 am
  #10  
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Originally Posted by typical
Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.
Thank you.

Very happy
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Old Jul 10, 2011, 4:37 am
  #11  
 
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Originally Posted by typical
Great ^

It seems to work unless those who give them out are on a power trip / the UAE has temporarily clamped down.

Glad to be of help

Oh, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3 minutes at an e-gate.
Great news. Thanks, NoY, for the information.
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Old Aug 1, 2011, 5:58 pm
  #12  
 
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great in theory, but last year the e gate system was down on 4 out of 5 of my trips through!
Although you can get your pp stamped at the e gate line in the normal fashion and still less of a queue!
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