Interesting move and undoubtedly in response to try and protect their market from Emirates in Scotland. Will be interesting to see how this pans out. Curious it only 3/wk during the EK A380 summer operation period. Unusual for QR to schedule in that fashion.
The perceived year round average loads obviously don't reflect QRs view of the route.
Meanwhile, the global demise of Etihad after their withdrawal doesn't seem to have come to fruition.