The ME3 don’t compete on the lucrative routes between Europe and North America. Many of their city pairs can be flown non stop or have other options, eg LHR - BKK with BA or TG, and LHR - SYD with CX or SQ.
The main advantages of going via the sand pit were:
1. Convenience - One stop connections rather than 2 or 3.
2. Price - Usually cheaper than a non stop between major cities.
3. Better travelling experience than many other airlines, eg Air India.
With reduced demand for long haul international, flight frequencies will be reduced and an agreeable two hour connection in Dubai could turn into an eight hour one which may be enough to persuade pax to pay the extra $150 for a non stop on their national airline.
The previous premium price for a non stop could drop if airlines are battling to fill seats.
Travel “bubbles” between virus free countries may require direct flights with no mixing of transit passengers.
The ME3 are heavily reliant on long haul premium traffic which will be the last sector to recover. They have no domestic flights and their origin/destination traffic is largely low yield migrant workers.
EY and QR are already in significant financial difficulties and their governments may not be willing to keep on contributing money, unless there is likely to be a strong turnaround.
A merger between EK and EY would make sense with routes rationalised and operations from both airports. QR could downsize to cover local needs, ie migrant workers and rich locals shopping in London and New York.