You may know more about the deal than I do; but, Kalitta gave up that contract to SAI. The initial operations out of Sharja were operationally restrictive and Kalitta pulled out. SAI is also flying Midex contracts (re: see Midex under Middle East forum - from what I've read on that thread, their pilots have done a lot of sitting recently). SAI is a low cost operator; but, as far as "I" know, they haven't been cornering the market by "under-bidding" their competitors. The B777 may go straight to desert, as you say; but, so far, they seem to be keeping their airplanes and crews, they didn't furlough, flying. Historically, I see no one financing a high operating costs new airplanes for SAI; unless there is a relative "certainty", they are going to be used. I could be wrong.
RP