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Dubai World subsidiary Dubai Ports World sparked a panic among United States politicians last year after it moved to take over terminal operations and stevedoring services at several US ports.
The company had taken over British shipping giant P&O, which operated port facilities in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans and Miami.
But the thought of a Middle East-based company taking over port operations on the continental United States was too much for US politicians, who believed the move posed a risk to national security.
Members of Congress cited the 9/11 Commission report, which stated that two of the September 11 hijackers were United Arab Emirates nationals.
The panic was a cross-party phenomenon that saw Minnesota Republican senator Norm Coleman siding with Democrat senator Charles Schumer to introduce legislation blocking the takeover.
"We need to ensure that all holes and leaks that compromise our port security are closed off," Senator Coleman said.
"This issue has finally put the spotlight on one of the greatest threats to our national security, and the Schumer-Coleman bill will allow Congress the time needed to rationally look at the sale of our terminals."
The furore forced the White House to rush to allay fears that US port security would be left in the care of Arab businessmen. In the end, Dubai Ports World agreed to sell American port operations to an American company.
