Married...
First, let me say I agree with you completely that protectionism is not the answer. But neither is tacit acceptance of the UAE's abyssmal treatment of people and its draconian legal system. Which is what we do when we treat them (EK) as if everything is "A-okay".
There are two different, but closely related, issues here. Clearly, promoting international trade is a MUST (vice protectionsim) but that cannot be done absent any attempts to ensure the game is fair. And that means both in economic and humanitarian terms. They're closely tied because many of the poorest countries have the worst conditions for workers. So one can provide a little more empathy (and assistance) to countries such as most in Africa or Asia, who simply don't have the resources (without a lot of international help) to establish the infrastructure, training, and policing necessary to lift the level of existence in a short time.
That is certainly NOT the case for the UAE (nor Saudi Arabia, nor Indonesia, nor certain "oil rich" African countries). In the case of the UAE we have an incredibly rich country whose whole philosophy and structure shows capitalism at its worst -- it revolves entirely around greed. And whatever abuse it can get away with.
So you can go right out and buy your EK ticket to wherever you want -- that's your choice. But don't ever kid yourself that their better price or better service comes at no cost. It comes at a HUGE cost in terms of human rights (as well as human trafficking and international arms shipments). And contributes only to the obscene individual wealth of their "esteemed leaders".
grizz