As is the case for any job or location. They all have their pros and cons.
You will have to weigh out this particular to you own personal situation.
You are fortunate that you have young children and are the ones that easily adapt.. I find that apart from the usual requirements , you usually find that sometimes the children can form the make or break decsion to make a move.
Being conversant in english your kids should be able to adapt to the UK system or if you prefer there is choice of the International Bacaulleratate (IB) sponsored by United Nation to provide for the internationally mobile family. You will find losts of SA teachers in Dubai expat schools.
Life style in Dubai is generally good , if you can get over the increasing traffic problems we are facing due to the daily influx of vehicles plying the dubai roads . A metro is due for use in late 2009 . Increasing use of Tolls looks the way the Road Transport Authority is going , although quite a few may argue that this has so far been unsuccessfull.
Cost of living is quite high amongst other GCC states . Starbucks coffee 15 Dirhams Big Mac meal 14 Dirhams , Generally complaints in the news paper that rentals on housing is out of control and has been eating into the paypacket of the expat population. Fortunately Emirates provides housing or a housing allowance if someone chooses to avail it. ( not recommended)
Cost of living is lower than Europe however if you are coming from SA or the US North America you may find Dubai a tad expensive.
If you are so inclined . Golf ,Sailing , Camping, Scuba Diving Wadi Bashing ( 4 WD in the Desert and Wadis) Beaches ( mostly accessed via a club membeship of buying on the day).are all available. Club access is subsidized via a the Emirates Pilots Club ( cost approx 50-100 Dirhams per month Single/FamilY) 1 US$ + 3.67 Dirhams Note EPC is a volunteer pilot run club.
Extra curricula activities for the kids are all available ( Ballet , cricket Rugby etc ) usuallyfor an extra fee.
In your case you are flying a 737 in SA. Working conditions on the Fleet are generally good . People are aware of the diversity on the flight deck. Over here in Dubai you will have an opportunity to fly one of the most modern fleet of aircraft . Non stop to New York on a 777-300Er or you may find doing a short turn around to DOHA or Muscat that are nominal 40 mins away. And anyting in between. Emirates has close to 80 destinations . Latest destinations Sao Paulo , Houston, Toranto, Newcastle etc. YOu can look to a minimum of 8-10 days off and if you are lucky at being a computer geek and you are top bid you can find yourself doing a couple of NewYorks and a Perth ( currenlty on the B777) and have 15 days off and some of those days off with a string of 7 days . Similar stories on the airbus if you are on the A 340.
Command prospects . Are bright ( you may find other may not agree) as compared to many other carriers. You will find quite a few posts regarding delayed commands. They will be due to commands being delayed due to DEC or Fast track commands . So depending where you sit in the eligibility criteria and which fleet you are on ,you can see a B777 first officer getting his upgrade letter in a year and if you are on the Airbus you can find your upgrade as late as 4 years . This can and will change in favour of the airbus fleet once the A380m starts joinig the fleet.
Emirates is currently reviewing it future Fleet requirements and should be deciding between the B787 and the A350XWB around 50 firm and 50 options .Also rumours for 20 B747-8 to cover the Dubai -Los Angeles/ San Fransisco route .
Emirates intends to become the largest "International Airline" in the coming years and expects to have a fleet of 150+ wide bodies in the not to distant future ( 2015).
You can look foward to a future that is Secure in the knowledge that the airline has had only one year that it has not been profitable since inception. A mangement that has largely stayed the same . A city state that is supportive of Emirates future objectives . An environment that is safe and secure for you and your family.
The cons are that you may have some adjustment to make living and working in an enviroment that you may not have experienced. Over 75 nationalities . Weather and pollution can sometimes get to you. Traffic is an issue with regards to delays and can be dangerous on most of the highways due to overspeeding. Apart from this there the issue of inflation and its recognition of the this by Emirates as currenlty the pay rise we recently had did not fully cover or meet the publicly accepted 9.5% inflation level.Due to some of these issue we have had quite a few pilots leaving Emirates.
I hope that gives you some idea. I will leave it to the others on the Forum to provide you futher insight to EK and Dubai. You will have to decide how you look at the Glass "Half full or Half empty"
Regards
BM