B738driver,
You say your plan is to gain PIC time before going to EK so as to have the option of returning to Europe in, say, 5 years time as a narrowbody DEC?
Exactly which European airline do you envisage in 5 years time will be hiring DECs? How many European EK FOs do you think have a similar plan? Do you think airlines offering narrowbody DECs are really going to want a B777 rated pilot with only long haul recency? Do you think an airline will be salivating at your P1 time being 5 years+ out of recency?
I asked myself these questions a year or two ago and took the command.
EK looks like a great job, but you have to accept it's a one way ticket to Dubai for all but the lucky few.