My perspective... I've been a 1K on UA for many years now, but choose EK over UA unless there's an EQM consideration involved. It helps that I have "friends" in EK who automatically upgrade my itineraries from Y or J to F (so, similar to buying UA Y and upgrading using an SWU).

Once they introduce the new F cabins on this route, I might consider opting to fly UA to DXB, rather than having to fly it.

Sadly, I don't think EK is ever going to introduce a premium Y cabin. They seem to be very happy with what I'll call Laborer Class, Business Class and Upgraded Business Class cabins.