Have you experienced standing in queues at the Dubai airport waiting to get through immigration?

Something called e-Gate will save you from that hassle every time you get through Dubai immigration

What is e-gate and why you should use it?

You probably have noticed some part of the immigration look like a subway station - instead of going to see customs officers, passengers walk pass a row of automatic gates after scanning their cards

This is the power of e-Gate and its smart card. It helps you save time and preserve your dignity

• Time - My personal experience tells me it saves 20 minutes from waiting at the super-crowded Economy class departure hall. On arrival, it saves 20 minutes
• Risks of being delayed - I have been delayed by immigration officers, perhaps because they see stamps from countries that’d suggest suspicious behavior. The e-Gate will solve this problem because you don’t have to show your passport
• Passport space - Not having to show your passport will save you some valuable space for other trips - bear in mind every 4 UAE stamp fill a page on the passport
• Physchological benefits - Don’t you feel happy and privileged when you can get through immigration in a split second?

How can you get it?

• You must first be in Dubai. They’ll approve applications even if you’re a visitor! The good news is that you don’t have to be a Dubai resident
• When you go to the Dubai airport for your next departure, arrive 10 minutes earlier than usual
• Go to the Emirates Airport economy class (non-US destinations) departure hall. Head to the 2nd floor. Follow the big signs to the e-Gate office
• The e-Gate staff will help you with the process. You only need to bring your passport and pay AED 200 (~USD 50). Your card will be ready in 10 minutes and you can try it out at the departure gate!
• Or if you want to do it in town, call the Dubai Airline Center at +971-4-3166-966 and find out their locations

What do others say?

Other travelers have written about e-Gates. Here are what they said

World of Pradeep - an Expat living in Dubai

“Anyways thanks to Egate card I dont have to wait on long ques and I can quicky exit from the emmigration counters…”

Chris Saul’s Blog

“eGate is utterly brilliant - every Dubai resident should get one, regardless of how often they fly”

Hiroex - Japanese expat in Dubai

“有効期間は2年間で発行手数料200Dhs（約6,000円）はちょっと高いけど、ただでさえ夜中早朝発着の多いドバイ空港を待ち時間なしにスマートに通れるのならその価値もありですね”

An English Man in Dubai - as a frequent traveler, he reveals what is in his bag

“E-Gate card – the best thing I thing the Dubai authorities have ever introduced for whizzing through immigration at Dubai airport”

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to travelers is delay at the airport. The issue has been particularly serious in Kuwait for arriving visitors who’re non-GCC Nationals. There have been times when I had to wait more than 2 hours at the airport before being allowed to enter the country. So I decide to find out and share some tips to help other people save time. Hope this is useful for you

The problem - lengthy visa procedure at Kuwait International Airport

Kuwait has a visa process that is restrictive by international standard. Every non-GCC visitor has to apply for visa in advance before entering Kuwait. In 2004, the Ministry of Interior has adopted a policy to open up its borders. Nationals of the following countries can apply for visa at the airport

1. USA.
2. UK.
3. France.
4. Italy.
5. Germany.
6. Canada.
7. Australia.
8. New Zealand.
9. Japan.
10. The Netherlands.
11. Belgium.
12. Luxembourg.
13. Switzerland.
14. Austria.
15. Sweden.
16. Norway.
17. Denmark.
18. Portugal.
19. Ireland.
20. Greece.
21. Finland.
22. Spain.
23. Monaco.
24. the Vatican.
25. Iceland.
26. Andorra.
27. San Marino.
28. Liechtenstein.
29. Brunei.
30. Singapore.
31. Malaysia.
32. Hong Kong.
33. South Korea.
34. China.*

*They recently excluded China, but the decision was not publicized. Customs officials told me they originally did not plan to restrict Chinese visitors. However, thousands of prostitutes and criminals flock to the country and stay there using the loophole. Therefore, when you arrive at Kuwait International Airport today, you will see notice boards stating people from these 34 countries can obtain visa there, with big crosses covering the word “China”. Moreover, Nationals of Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong were screened in extra caution (that means extra wait time!), because Kuwaiti officials are concerned that Chinese may try using fake passports of these 3 countries to enter Kuwait. They have no way to tell from the look, whether someone is from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong or China

Usually people need to wait for 1 - 1.5 hour to have a visa issued. If you don’t want to wait, here is a good service to use

Solution - Hala (Meet-and-greet) Services
Realizing this problem, entrepreneurs have found a way to speed up the visa process. This is a service run by a private company called Hala Services Kuwait. User can register online or call them at +965-842-842 (Ext. 304) to ask for help. Of all the services they provide (from welcoming you by flowers and dates at the gate to wheelchair assistance), I recommend the airport visa service

I tried it myself. As soon as I stepped out of the plane, I saw a lady holding up a cardboard with my name on it. Then she escorted me directly to the visa counter. Instead of waiting in line with the other ~100 travelers, we bypassed the whole process by using a special counter. 15 minutes later, I was already outside the airport

It costs 1 KD (~3.5 USD), but it’s worth it as I don’t have to worry about waiting. Now I don’t have to worry about arriving after a 747-400 from Amsterdam, and how long I have to wait until they give you a visa

For more information,

Hala Services in Kuwait’s International Airport

Kuwaitah website on Kuwait visa procedure

I have always had bad experience with Kuwait International Airport. Lately I’ve spent many hours just waiting for visa to be issued. They employ a lot of people, but they don’t seem to care about passengers. Rather, they just play with their phones, smoke, make fun of each others, in front of many disgruntled customers! The tip from me is to always have visas pre-arranged before you reach Kuwait soil. That’d save you 2 hours PER TRIP!

To contribute to the world’s body of knowledge on airport satisfaction, or share some of your dissatisfactions with your fellow travelers, feel free to fill in this survey

Alternatively, if you are impressed by the service that an airport has offered, you can nominate your airport of choice for the World Airport Award. In the past, the winners have been Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. Coincidentally, all of them used to be British colonies. If only Heathrow can match them in terms of waiting time, I’ll be 10 times happier

In some Muslim countries, it is illegal to drink Kuwait is one example. But as with many other restrictions, people can always find ways to circumvent them. Here’s one scene that I’ve observed

At the Dubai airport, there are shops selling pocket-sized spirits. People would buy them, and slip them into their suit’s inner pockets. The medal detector do not detect liquids, so they can pass through Dubai security safely. At Kuwait arrival, customs search people’s luggage, not their jackets. Here you go - a small bottle of spirit has been transported into Kuwait

Hidden inside