Newscaster,
EK holds long term ACMI contracts for multiple Atlas 747-400F (also TNT too). Emirates schedules the plane 100% of the time unless there is a soft spot in flying which Atlas marketing can then make an agreement to use the aircraft temporarily to fly an Atlas flight. Essentially these planes are fully scheduled by Emirates and Atlas/TNT flies wherever and whenever they are told to by Emirates. And with a long term ACMI agreement, the customer has the option to paint the aircraft in their livery or leave it in Atlas/TNT colors. Hence EK painted 747-400F's (on both Atlas and TNT planes).
Back to DXB-NBO. Been scheduled in one form or another for a LONG time now. Whether DXB-JNB-NBO......or......DXB-EDL-NBO......or....DXB-LLW-EBB-NBO. Don't know why, but sometimes the cargo is out of SHJ. So periodically interchange SHJ for DXB as the originator. Therefore DXB-SHJ or vice versa is just positioning, generally NO cargo.
Flights from NBO are always to AMS. Emirates Cargo has a long term contract to deliver roses from the Kenyan flower growers NBO to AMS.
Hope that answers your questions.