Lospilotos,
I rarely reply on these forums but feel that I need to in this case.
Do not, whatever you do, be taken in by the real estate advertising masquerading as posts by SPW. Whilst she is, I’m sure, an honorable and decent (despite evidence to the contrary in her recent posts) person her advice is fatally flawed. She has no real knowledge of EK, has only been here for 3 years and has a vested interest in you believing her advice.
Do not trust anyone who tells you what EK are going to do next week. It’s just not the way EK operate and I would bet a large sum that they will never accommodate outside Dubai.
Undoubtedly UAQ/RAK are very pleasant but they are most definitely not for everyone. Take the company accommodation for at least a year, assess the market , decide where you would like to live and what lifestyle suits you and then if you are sure go out and buy. You won’t miss out on a bargain as the market is basically stagnant at the moment.
Bottom line, do not commit yourself or family to a lifestyle and commute that you may regret.