A 787 isn't that many seats to fill, and the lure of a direct flight will one suspects lure some folks away from a stop in the UAE.
Last time I went this way was on a BA 744, via SIN, where half the pax got off (and very few got on), which can't have been very economical either (although I accept it probably wouldn't be on a 74' now).
It's a long slog for sure, but once you get to 13-14hrs, a few more is neither here nor there IMHO.