The fact the they have stations abroad makes them legally liable according to that state law thus if you really want to sue them in your country you can do it provided they have a station there...or at least that's what I'm been told. In that case having a base is not that much of a difference right? The fact is that Dubai is a very fragile economy, with a level of speculation far from normal and with real estate bubble in the verge of a massive explosion.. Who is going to live in the apartment you are goign to vacate, who will go to Spinneys to buy groceries, who will pay salik charges.. Lot of immigration to Dubai?Yeah..mainly cheap labour coming to be exploited and that can't afford much other then food...cheap food.. Some friends workong outside of aviation already packing... Life too expensive and Dhs worth nothing..
They need a middle class here to keep the place running..and you are the middle class they won't let you go......I think this is the real reason why they don't base.Oil is about to finish and their ambititon to become like Singapore a major financial and commercial hub are greatly diminished by the fact that Dubai....is not Singapore. They need Emirates employee to leave in Dubai.