The bigger hub airlines make their money moving westerners through their hubs to their onward destinations.
Westerners don’t particularly like dropping in to these hubs, (except Singapore or perhaps Hong Kong pre revolution) but it’s a means to the end.
Where western airlines can compete is point to point with a smaller aircraft bypassing the hubs with the smaller originating traffic.
Once there is equipment that can do it, and the western airlines all catch on, the hubs will be busted and the mid hub market will be moving their own and developing country originating traffic around.
The best way to see the Middle East is at 38,000 feet at .84.
The 380 doesn’t work in the west, but it works brilliantly sub 10 hours from a hub like Dubai with an 80% load factor.