Hi SegMAn,
great that you want to pursue your life dream.
I don't have the experience myself, but I have heard from various pilots around the globe that Emirates isn't as glamorous as it looks at first sight. There's an interesting topic going on this very forum, which is a must-read if you're interested in flying for Emirates.
I would recommend to follow a course for math and physics. ATPL theory is not rocket science, but definitely challenging if you don't have the right knowledge.
You'll easily find a place where you can get your PPL for way under 10-12k. A couple flight schools in the States (don't have names) offer a PPL Course for just above 5000$.
As of your age: You're 26. By the time you got the right papers, you'll be 28. Won't say you're too old, but it's definitely something to ask around for.
Hope this helps a bit.