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The comments come on the back of France and Canada accusing Dubai flag-carrier Emirates of receiving government subsidies and preferential treatment at its home hub.

The comments were not received well by Dubai Airports Co. Chief Executive Paul Griffiths, who was quick to damn the comments.

"The only thing Dubai is guilty of is providing an environment that actually supports aviation.

"Most governments around the world treat aviation as a pariah, choking its growth with costly, misdirected regulation, instead of adopting policies that recognise its considerable socio-economic benefits and support its sustainable growth. They then compound the problem with parasitic forms of taxation that usually flow straight out of the sector.

"In Dubai, aviation is embraced as a strategic imperative. Another key to its success has been equal treatment of airlines. Dubai Airports and Dubai Air Navigation Services offer the same competitive rates and charges to all airlines.

"That, combined with the UAE's open skies policy and the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and leisure destination, is why we have 130 airlines operating into one of the fastest growing airports in the world."

And that growth may be the problem. Gulf majors like Etihad of Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways have seen substantial growth in the last few years, which commentators say has unnerved older airlines and fueled mutual accusations of protectionism.