Ok, to answer my own question, QR did in fact open up additional award inventory approximately 7 or 8 days prior to departure (I don't know the exact timing because I'm not sure I checked every day).
I originally was booked on QR676, the 810a DOH-MLE departure. That flight is still showing J9 C9 D9 I9 R9 and has 2 J award seats available.
QR674 at 1240a and QR672 at 210a have both been showing J9 but i0 R0 for some time (I don't recall what the C or D inventory was) with no J award seats available.
Today, QR674 is showing J9 C7 D0 I0 R0, and they made two J award seats available, one of which I grabbed.
Interestingly, QR672 is, at the moment, showing more revenue availability than QR674 (J9 C9 D9 I0 R0), but no additional award availability has been made available. I'll keep checking to see if this changes as this actually is my preferred flight.