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
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The specs
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Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
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.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
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