It seems that for every individual like KINGOFTHESLIPSTREM, their are many happy and smiling faces around working for EK. It depends where you come from - at present the Aussies and Europeans are taking strain with the exchange rate. Some others are really smiling e.g. Africans and Yankees. I presume that Canadians are also worse off due to the strengthening of the Can dollar to the US dollar.
Go and have a look and listen to the roadshow - I have found it truthful with good information about life in the UAE.
I enjoy the life here, and I will stay - for a while in any case!