Singapore Airlines has a policy of reserving the A380 pilot positions for its citizens. Possibly EK will try the same thing but hopefully the fleet reduction won't be so great that they can get rid of all the expats. Retaining a small core of A380 crews to keep things ticking over, whilst firing the rest and then offering jobs back on reduced terms and conditions in six months time once things have settled down might appeal to management.
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...an%20citizens.