I can't speak to the loads on EK, but there is a lot of traffic from the UAE to Kabul -- six airlines fly a total of 42 flights per week to DXB (according to Google flights), plus Air Arabia flies to SHJ. Dubai is the gateway to Afghanistan from the westerly direction (security support and other business), plus Afghan expatriates in the GCC, plus Afghan businesspeople.

It is interesting that EK added the first real premium service there; I wonder how it's doing.