Some DEC (the ones already flying on 777 for example) are sometime more experienced than EK FO first officers, second they are not recruiting many F/O but just a few, the pilots with an acceptable experience to replace the "upgrading" f/o are finished.... They hired everybody around and one year ago, to find the last ones they even lowered the minimum requirements !! There's nothing to babysit... DEC is a normal patch that usually they avoid but soon they will need them again, that's normal procedure.... DEC are not delaying anybody, if you read the email that HR wrote to the pilots you will understand....