The United Arab Emirates is spending millions of dollars a year to convince the American public - and Congress - that it's safe to do business with.

Eight years after a skittish Congress derailed plans for Dubai Ports World to take over operation of six US seaports, the federation of seven emirates is still paying PR and lobbying firms upwards of $5 million a year to boost its image – far more than any other Middle Eastern nation. The federation, home to two of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackers, views the effort as a crucial investment to help achieve its transformation into a global business hub.

“Dubai Ports World highlighted the fact that there was very little understanding in the US about the UAE,” Richard Mintz, managing director at The Harbour Group, told National Journal in 2007 after the UAE hired his firm as part of a three-year, $15 million public diplomacy campaign. In 2013, the UAE was still paying The Harbour Group $4.4 million – plus another $1.2 million paid to lobbying firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and DLA Piper.

With UAE businesses once again coming under fire as its world-class airlines try to grab a bigger piece of the US market, the PR push is looking wiser every day. Over the past year, the US airline industry has ramped up its attacks, accusing [http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024305563_foreignairlinesunfairxml.html ] Abu Dhabi’s Etihad and Dubai’s Emirates of unfair government support – and getting a sympathetic ear in Congress.