Is Qatar the Next Dubai?

Late out of the tourism starting gate, Qatar is suddenly leading a charge of gulf nations into the roughly half-trillion-dollar global travel market. Why are these small and conservative Islamic countries suddenly courting the world's luggage-rolling masses after decades of indifference? One reason lies underground. With economies centered on petroleum — and with supplies slowly dwindling — many oil-dependent nations are scrambling to diversify their revenue streams.

But the more immediate inspiration lies next door: the bling-bedecked Cinderella story of the travel industry, the emirate of Dubai.

Read more in the NY Times of May 31.