We used Gulf air for a trip to Dubai August 2003 and found them to be very, very good.
Check in at LHR was a bit of a zoo but we were allocated exit row seats without asking. On board entertainment was very modern - seat back TVs with cameras front and down. (You can't see much at night or over the desert though:) )
Service very friendly - all the staff appear to be linguists.
On the way back at DXB we showed our FC Silver cards to make sure we got the tier point and were very surprised to be invited into their excellent first class lounge

I would have no hesitation in flying with them again.
Nick