EK is really a low cost airline that gives the appearance (but only appearance) of a legacy or first rate Asian carrier. Don't get me wrong T&C's are declining everywhere but service on EK is so hit and miss now because they can't retain cabin crew for more than a couple of years. Twenty somethings come to DXB to party for a couple of years and then eff off because they hate it so much and are worked like dogs. With hundreds of different nationallities working together, there is such a hodge podgy in service standards - especially compared to Cathay, Singapore, Korean etc. There is no comparison in the cabin environment.
As for flight deck crew that used to be primarily from UK, OZ, CDN, USA - watch as this shifts to mostly pilots from the subcontinent, south america, south africa and other areas that may consider the package worthy of a decade or more in the sandpit being some Arab's slave. Whilst evicting senior captains from their family homes to live in a glorified labour camp in the desert, no pay raises, insane rostering and working hours, dubious leave options…who wants to go there anymore. It's low cost….and will continue down that path even more as they try to dominate the world.