And look at the major competition that is building up fast in the region of the UAE: Etihad, Gulf, Oman!

I would expect Emirates to join an alliance as soon as they halfway finished / published their expansion plans. Alliances may tend to try to limit the expansion of their new members if they touch routes other members already serve...

Emirates surely would be a great milestone for skyteam in becoming a powerful alliance. And KL/CO/NW even have their RTW tickets together with EK as a partner (same argument pro MH in skyteam)...

So I think there is hope, albeit not in the next 1 or 2 years I guess...