It could indeed be harmful but when the CEO of IAG welcomes increased competition from the ME3, along with a government and unions that appear to be less robust in defending their interests within the UK, it shows a marked difference from elsewhere in Europe.
We saw GSS close down at Stansted with Qatar Cargo now providing dedicated cargo capacity for IAG. An example of a successful British operator being squeezed out of the market and eventually out of business by a Gulf carrier.
On the topic of the UAE-Canada bilateral agreement, there are 6 weekly rotations available with EY taking three and EK taking three. Qatar seem to have a more generous offering.