Inhabitants of rival Gulf states scent hubris in the way Dubai has risen from the desert and grabbed the world's attention with its futuristic tourism developments, proliferating skyscrapers and liberal use of superlatives to market each project.

Some doubtless relish the hostile scrutiny to which the emirate's ambitions are being subjected in the US and particularly on Capitol Hill. But confronted by an American populist backlash against the prospect of Dubai Ports World (DPW) running US container terminals as part of its $6.9bn (£4bn, €5.8bn) acquisition of the UK-based P&O, the more common sentiment among Arab businessmen and officials is indignation.