Dubai's ambitions soar with new airport
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - In the desert beyond the skeletons of villas unfinished because of Dubai's economic slump, the home of the tallest building is preparing to open what could become another record-setter: an airport aiming to become the world's busiest.
Civic boosters envision Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International, set to open Sunday, as one day growing into a mammoth transit hub of five parallel runways that could trump Atlanta's airport for the No 1 spot. Where camels now graze, they see up to four terminals handling more travelers than the world's No 2 and 3 airports - Chicago's O'Hare and London's Heathrow - combined.
Big ambitions die hard here. Yet the airport and surrounding development - with a projected price tag of more than $32 billion - are a gamble for a city-state whose soaring aspirations have been eclipsed by its struggle to pay for them.
