I think that there are times when an airline would take into account your plans but would expect you first to turn to your travel insurance.
However there are always likely to be delays and the airlines (most) will provide a hotel (if applicable) food and put you on the next available flight and see this as the normal limit of their responsibility and to be honest I think this is fair enough and have never asked an airline for compensation in this event.
No doubt you will make many more flights and you may consider doing as I do and not making any "important" arrangements on the first day although I would happily return to work on the same day as an early morning arrival back in the UK

However unfortunately dealing with Etihad customer relations can be an unrewarding experience - I am still awaiting a response to an enquiry made on 5rd September despite me sending a reminder