Even though I feel the post by DCT no Speed was a little harsh, I can understand his frustration.
The best way for you, all pilots and even our UAE ACC compatriots to understand what happens on a nightshift from the approach side, is to come and see it for yourself. Unfortunately getting permits to enter the White House seems easier than to get airside and into the center in Dubai, so there is our/your problem as to why we can't get together. The Dubai ATC's would be more than willing to have you plug in with us and explain things.
What I will say is this:
Take your 20NM space as given by UAE (thanks AGAIN, we do appreciate your work), 1 acft from each side gives you 10NM between them, take the concertina effect into account for the 40+ miles to run on the STAR and add a few arrivals from the DARAX gate (which don't get counted in the 20NM), a couple more from OMAA and the other sattelite stations, oh and the odd go-around every night, then provide an 8NM gap between them on final for tower to depart traffic and all of sudden 20NM doesn't seem that much. The result is the so called "snake", "daisy chain", "conga-line" and many other wonderful names. It is easy to sit back and judge others work "from a distance", it is human nature. Everybody can do it better, can't they?
Another point is that as this is a free for all airport with no slot sytem in or out, we also have no way to judge the deparure rate for planning.
Hope this explains it a tad. Yes it is our job, that is why a sense of humor helps.... No hurt taken
