FR suggests it is a reasonable (800 mile) deviation from the great circle route, which could be to do with avoiding headwinds or storms. In this case there is a the strong jet stream just south of Iceland at the moment (the close isobars in the surface pressure charts are a good indicator: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/w...ime=1443614400). It's easier to go north from DXB; from Europe flights are just heading a more southerly route.