Soft opening for terminal 

Dubai International Airport saw the soft opening of its second concourse last month.
Al though Sheikh Rashid Terminal will not be officially opened until later this year, passengers can now use the five level building. The terminal includes a departure level with 27 gates; 47 passenger loading bridges; a 100-room hotel; an Internet Cafe; and 14 first and business class lounges. At the centre is the new Dubai Duty Free shopping complex.
Passenger handling capacity at the airport has now been raised to 22 million per year. The next phase of the expansion programme is due to start after 2003, when another concourse will be constructed, allowing for a capacity of 45 million a year by 2018.
Over the past ten years, passenger throughput increased by 136% , from 4.5 million in 1989, to 11 million in 1999. This year, it is expected to reach 12 million. 
Visas may be eased
Saudi Arabia has approved broad guidelines for issuing visas to visitors, in a move seen as a first step towards issuing tourist visas to foreigners.
Detailed regulations, however, will have to be drawn up before tourist will be allowed to visit historic sites. The government guidelines will probably require foreigners to travel to the kingdom in groups overseen by local tour operators, who will be responsible for ensuring they leave at the end of their stay.
Whilst long perceived as being lukewarm to the idea of foreign tourism, the kingdom has been moving slowly towards opening itself up to foreign investment as a means of lessening its dependence on oil revenue, while plans to set up a higher council to attract tourist are said to be under consideration.
Last year Saudi Arabia approved a measure permitting Muslims coming for the pilgrimage, Haj, to travel across the kingdom rather than being restricted to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Madinah.