For premium travel EK are better but EY are cheaper.
For economy travel EY are slightly better and slightly cheaper
EY status is easier to maintain once achieved, e.g. For Silver 25 000 miles in the first year and 20 000 per 12 months afterwards. Also EY allows family miles to pool into one account and be used towards awards with no minimums on a miles + cash basis.
QF code share may be useful with EK if you travel within Australia.
Abu Dhabi is quieter and cheaper for transit/stop over than Dubai.
If I was paying out of my own pocket I would go for EY, if someone else was paying I'd go for EK.