Pay and conditions have eroded in the ME and are no longer significantly better to contemplate taking up employment there for a few years to bank some serious cash. The difference was far greater a decade ago compared to what it is now and plenty, especially EU based pilots that are employed, will no longer take the plunge. The ME has gone the way of a lot of entry level jobs in Europe and they cannot justify that. They should go back to what was on offer 10-15 years ago and they should have no problem getting their postions filled.