60K Tier miles are not hard to get. EK TIER miles are incredibly hard or ridiculously easy to get depending on route. I fly CMB-DXB-LAX R/T regularly. I never need to fly from CMB TO LAX on the same trip but do need to fly to CMB from DXB 3-5 times a year & monthly to the U.S. I was very surprised how quickly Plat came this year. CMB-DXB which is considered a stop but I consider it my destination & DXB-LAX which is the destination but I consider a separate trip. 3 round trips in F & I made Plat (by March) not to mention flights Ex CMB HAVE GREAT f class fares. (OP can get a R/T DXB-CMB & a R/T CMB-LAX UTILIZING A STOP HOME IN DXB IF HE WANTS & you will have earned 62,000 tier miles for apex $7600