I would give my left arm to work for an US carrier, even jet blue.
if you come to EK and get your upgrade after 8 years then what?
you still in the middle east, with a bit more money but thats it, the company screws you the same.
if you want to go back to the US you start at the bottom of the food chain again, but you might be too old for that then.
think twice before you come to EK or the middle east