Officially the death penalty is available to the Dubai Courts but in reality is it VERY rarely used. It's not beneficial to the tourist industry.
During my 9 years in Dubai, I never heard of a (Western)expat being executed for anything. An asian subcontinent national was executed a few years ago ( by shotgun at close range. Ouch!! ) for the rape and murder of an 8YO Arab girl but this was an extreme case and even I would have exercised my right to the use death sentence if I was the Magistrate on that one.
The Australian EK FA at worst will probably get a life sentence, served either in Dubai or Australia depending on how good the Aussie diplomat's are. The two Arab guys arrested with her are in much deeper **** and their case "could" be used as a deterrent to other Nationals.
IMHO, they were all remarkably naive or amazingly stupid to think that, in Dubai's subtle but obvious Police state, they could get away with it especially over the internet. The MoI supported by Dubai Police has a sizable team of "moderators" keeping a very close eye on internet use in the Emirates.
Either way she won't be saying Chicken or Beef on any aircraft for many years to come.
Whooaahh!!!