I fly emirates regularly. I transit thru Dxb regularly. As a poster has said earlier the facilities in the transit area are excellent. It is a busy airport, but they have desks everywhere that provide information when asked. They have a process they follow. In that airport they will not hunt you down or call for you it is upto you to go upto a desk & ask for the latest update. As for food & water, you might be in a Dessert, but there is more than enough in options to buy food & water as well as areas that one can rest. What the OP should write is that free food & water was not available on demand. I have been delayed there many a time & they hand you a coupon every 6 hours or so for a fixed limited meal & refreshment at select restaurants.