Takingover
Anyone know why this would happen?
As stated, if the controller judges that the one just entering is going to fit perfectly behind the one ahead of YOU, then it is sometimes more efficient to allow the a/c to do that, let you run around the hold, then fit perfectly behind him. The culture at the UAE ACC is not such that: the landing order is strictly maintained by the order of arriving at the hold (as it is in other places). It takes a little adjustment to get used to, if you are used to it being so elsewhere. For example: There are 4 inbound in a bunch (all roughly the same speed for simplicity). 2 is 6nm behind 1, 3 is 4 nm behind 2, and 4 is 10nm behind 3. The sequence can be achieved by slowing 2 down, slowing and vectoring 3 and 4. OR just give 2 one holding pattern. 2 becomes last, and everyone else just continues on in. It can be more efficient to just muck one a/c around. It's a simplistic scenario, but I hope it conveys the idea. In other places I have worked, you wouldn't think of doing it this way, but it is just another way of achieving the sequence- especially when 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all EK a/c.