Am I missing something obvious here?
Yes, you are. It's written all over these pages but amazingly many wannabies simply can't comprehend the content.
As we all agree, in the civilised world the airline industry is in trouble. It is however quite
cyclic, as proven now with the recall in the US and the UK.
As you should have distilled by now, the industry in the ME is in a big bubble, but the conditions for the newcomers only point in
one direction: Lower.
So if you have a job back home, there is a chance that the cycle can wash you down, certainly, but just as much that it can present opportunities.
If you come to EK today, the only certainty is that the conditions will deteriorate.
Unfortunately any information you gather now, any rosy picture you draw up for yourself will be history by tomorrow. It has been like that for the last ~6 years with no sign of any softening trend. On the contrary.
There is more risk here than home. Again, this considering you having a halfway decent job back there.
Don't think twice, think hard trice ....... for us, stuck in the sandpit, your situation is a no brainer.