I think many of you are missing what some (literally on scene) ppruners have tried to tell you:
The aircraft had departed for Cologne much earlier than you are surmising. Its difficulties began whilst in Bahrain's airspace and they elected to return to DXB. On their first approach things got very bad very quickly and (without too much detail) they were unable to see their instruments or the airport.
Things were obviously VERY VERY nasty for these two guys.