I believe they installed VASI/PAPI/ILS, in order to improve safety, so yes, we rely on these excellent pieces of equipment to guide us down. I don't think removing them, installing NDB's and turning off the runway/approach lights will improve safety, but obviously some posters will disagree.
In Chennai some years ago they had a temp displaced threshold with no approach lights, no temp PAPI, and just a LOC/DME. Night landings in hazy/misty/foggy conditions.
I'm a chicken, so I always opted for the VOR RWY 25.
Two 747's (that I know of) landed short of the displaced threshold. I watched a Blue Dart 737 nearly doing the same, and this was their home base.
Night landings without anything to guide you down is a risky business. For most of us. No worries for the heros of aviation, apparently.
Not really related to this incident, I know.
Good luck in AUH guys! Hopefully EY will use this incident to see if they can improve their operation, but I doubt it. A ticket home, more likely, if the pilot was not a UAE citizen.