The info about 75% and 100% at 5 and 7 years is correct. (From final linecheck). Given that you don't receive the PF payout until several weeks after your last day of service, and you won't be able to get out of the UAE without clearing the loan, then the PF as payment for the loan is a non-starter - unless you can get some special permission. Good luck with that.
I agree a secondary loan isn't ideal. But the cost of doing so I would simply regard as money well spent to move on. Of course if you aren't able to access the funds, the suggestion is moot. It makes perfect sense to offer the PF as payment for the loan, but I think the chances of obtaining funds elsewhere are greater than those of actually getting EK to agree to a reasonable solution. Especially one that helps one of the slaves to escape.
Of course there is another option. Just do a runner and then the PF will be used against the loan, just as desired. Problem solved!
