B043 - I don't believe the rumours you heard for a second. VOz are hiring for their requirement. The only middle eastern operator that uses cruise pilots I know of at present is Qatar. A lot of other airlines (Emirates being one) if flying a heavy crew do it with either 2 FO's and a capt or 2 capt's and 1 FO.
Also if true, all these airlines are also quite capable of advertising and training applicants to their own SOP's without using an airline in a different regulatory authority and bonding them (if they so choose) directly. Which makes me wonder why skimming pilots from this scheme would be attractive to them?
Emirates and Etihad are still airlines that are seen as aspirational due to the lifestyle and benefits that come with the job. They have no shortage of applicants and therefore put their hours threshold pretty high. I am in no doubt that some pilots with 2/3000 hours would consider dropping from FO to CRP just to get a foot in the door.