Fugazi,
It's not that I know all about EK, but they do seem to be making the very same basic mistakes that many rapidly growing new aircarriers experience (have worked for three)...
First guys in advance eventually to the head shed, where they set up their little empires (soon to become big empires), then shortchange the training department (politics usually), resulting in a training shortfall...direct entry guys needed (EK) or...more DE guys required (other affected carriers).
Have been in a line training capacity for a long time and it ain't rocket science, but it does need support from senior management, which in EK's case, appears to be definately on the back burner during the recent past, if comments on another thread are to be believed.
Personally believe experienced guys that applied in the recent past (now First Officers) in retrospect should have waited just a bit longer...all the right signs were there if you looked deeply enough...or had seen it transpire in another company.
You pays your money, takes your chances.
Five will get you ten that a very few new DE Captains will adopt the 'gear up--shut up attitude' with these same First Officers in residence now, and the picture ain't gonna be pretty.