I cant have an entire department dictate my family's personal being
Nwebie Mate if you are considering a career with EK this is something you will have to come to terms with. You will not be just an employee, you will be an "expatriate employee" to whom the company dictates. Everything from where you live, who your neighbors are, what time you will leave your house to go to work, who does your annual medical and countless more will be laid out for you on a take it or leave it basis. No negotiation. The leave it part means leaving DXB and the company.
Emirates is your sponsor and so every little thing that you wish to do must be approved by the company. Want to take a car loan, open a bank account, change banks, get internet, drivers license everything you can imagine requires a letter from the company. Admittedly the process for getting the letters has been streamlined in passed years but it still means that the company has a record of every little thing you do.
Your contract will contain a paragraph to the effect " The Employment Regulations ( currently published, and as amended from time to time after the date of this contract) form part of your contract of employment. This line alone says we can change whatever we want and can tell you to lump it. Ask anyone who has been here a few years how many changes there have been to the "Employment regulations in their time here.
To all potential newbies think very carefully and have a very open mind about what you are willing to accept or not.