Not an unpopular opinion with me (SLF) - I have in the past flown with Emirates and Etihad in business class - great service, low price, and usually an A380. But after Doha 2020 I've vowed never again on a ME airline. Flew Thai Business last month to France, and it was great. I'll pay extra to avoid going in to the ME.
Just imagine - you stumble and accidentally tread on the foot of the Emir's cousin, breaking his toe. He's already pissed off because his camel came last in yesterday's camel racing, so it's off to prison you go. Sure, the airline will get you out again because of the bad publicity, but do you want to spend a night in a jail in the ME? No such thing as "rule of law" and everyone's equal.
Mind you, we really could do with a bit more competition - Thai Business had 22 rows in a 777, and it was choccers. Qantas jobs for Australian pilots. Yeah, right. Fat profits for executive's pay, and stuff the rest. And can anyone tell me the last time Qantas paid some company tax?