DUBAI // The fourth instalment of the popular Mission: Impossible film franchise is to be partly filmed in Dubai, it was confirmed yesterday.
Shooting for the film, which stars Tom Cruise, will begin in the "next few weeks", according to a statement by the media office of Dubai. A spokesperson for the film, who asked not to be named, said: "Mission: Impossible will be shooting on location in Dubai in several weeks and the cast and crew are looking forward to experiencing Dubai's wonderful cultural diversity and its distinctive architecture."
"It's a good thing for Dubai to have this film," said the manager of a lighting company based in Dubai, who also asked not to be named. "It will raise the level of movie production here. The kind of lighting and other techniques that will be required for this movie will be more advanced than what Dubai has seen before."
The announcement comes after two months of meetings between the franchise's Hollywood studio, Paramount Pictures, and government officials. Technical teams also arrived to scout locations in the city.
Among the possible filming sites are the Burj Khalifa and Meydan. Government departments and companies such as Emirates Airline and Emaar have been placed on standby to assist with the film. "Filming [set to take place in] Dubai would be the longest among other international cities that will feature in M:I4," said the statement from the emirate's media office. "The city is expected to play host to the film crews and stars over a period of at least three weeks."
Alongside Cruise will be a crew of more than 400, including the director Brad Bird, who is best known for his work on Pixar's The Incredibles, which grossed more than US$600 million (Dh2.2 billion) globally. Other stars expected to arrive in Dubai include the Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and Paula Patton (Precious). Only a handful of big-budget films have been made in the UAE, notably the Hollywood blockbusters The Kingdom, which was set in Saudi Arabia, and Syriana, which was set in several countries in the Middle East.
Landing part of the production of M:I4 will boost Dubai's efforts to establish itself as a host to international films and a regional movie hub. In 2004, the city launched the Dubai International Film Festival. In five years, it has more than doubled the number of films shown to 181 from 76, and expanded the number of countries represented to 66 from 27. Dubai opened Dubai Studio City in 2005, which provides resources for filmmaking from equipment rental to post-production. It also supports television productions.
The Mission: Impossible franchise has grossed more than US$1.4bn globally, according to Paramount. M:I4 is scheduled for US release in December 2011.
chuang@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The National in Davos
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Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
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Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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