Thanks to both of you - I appreciate your advice.

I am totally fine with DXB - actually might be the best of the three in terms of a place to stopover.

When I looked earlier today, AC.com was pricing 7k-ish for YWG-YYZ-AUH-MLE in J. I could get YWG-YYZ-DXB for around 2k in latitude, upgrade it instantly, keep it refundable, and then book onwards from AUH-MLE for another 2k, but that wouldn't get me SQD for the second leg...