Ali Bin Somewhere, the best argument Ive heard for Dubai having holds in the TMA, the conditions you describe are a great indication of how these antiquated procedures are failing!!!
Find it amazing how night after night you vector A/C all over the sky, working far too hard, costing the airlines money, when a "route to .... Hold maintain .... Feet and contact Dubai approach" would solve all the problems.
Mr Dane, either pay a visit to the London TMA or just leave!!!!