I'd very much doubt it!
My belief is that he would need to sit the IFR flight test in NZ where he sat his (NZ) exams, then have the instrument rating printed on his license before submitting the License to the GCAA for conversion.He would also need to do a ELP either in the UAE or in NZ which is printed on his license, and may be required to do some check out type flight in the UAE?.
take a look on the GCAA website it should have some answers..
http://www.gcaa.gov.ae/en/pages/default.aspx
On another note, I do believe you can sit some FAA type exams within the UAE, then do the flying in the states to obtain the required FAA license.Maybe your friend is thinking of some FAA type thing?.
Outbound