No criticism of the blokes on the consoles is implied here - I think we all recognise that they are working to a set of rules they wish they could shed, (The same might be said of many people on the other end of the microphone.) But would it even be remotely possible for someone high up in UAE ATC to take a junket to London and see how someone else (I'm not implying someone "better") does it?
To say again what I've been saying for so long now, a close in hold would allow EVERY aircraft, whatever type it is, to remain clean (ie, above 230k) until departing the hold. That will save a lot of people a lot of fuel. If the hold had a minimum height of 7000' and there was approx 20 track miles from the hold to touchdown, preferably with a "S" turn involved to allow the controllers a final tweak of the spacing, most people (I can see from some of the posts, not everyone) would be happy, because 20 miles from 7000' should normally result in a continuous descent and minimal, but more importantly, a PREDICTABLE fuel burn ex the hold.
End of rant.