Yeah EK always suffers in the summer, people think Dubai is too hot (honestly I think a lot of it is in peoples minds but I understand heat isn't for everyone), so the pax they do get are either off home for the summer if in education over here or on a holiday to popular destinations such as Thailand, Australia, Indian Ocean etc. I.e I'm off NCL-DXB-BKK on Monday, will let you know how the loads are.
I don't see why they don't just sell F from NCL, you'd think if most are 3 class anyway, if it goes empty, it goes empty, but if passengers book F, bonus for EK! It ups the load factors as well.