The stage is set for the Middle East premiere of the highly anticipated film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which will take place at the luxurious Emirates Palace on June 26th. The red-carpet event will be graced by the presence of the movie’s star, Tom Cruise, and director Christopher McQuarrie, alongside the rest of the cast and crew.
Paramount Pictures’ latest Mission: Impossible installment not only promises an action-packed storyline but also showcases the stunning landscapes of Abu Dhabi. Thanks to the unwavering support of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC), a division of the Creative Media Authority, both the breathtaking Liwa desert and the iconic Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal served as filming locations.
The magnitude of the production required seamless collaboration among multiple businesses and entities across Abu Dhabi. Notable contributors included twofour54 Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Airports (AD Airports), and Etihad Airways, the film’s official airline partner.
This is not the first time the Mission: Impossible franchise has chosen Abu Dhabi as a backdrop. The jaw-dropping HALO jump sequence in 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout was also filmed in Abu Dhabi, thanks to the support of ADFC, twofour54, and the UAE military. In addition to Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, the Middle East Premiere will welcome the presence of other film stars, including Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Simon Pegg.
Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Acting Director General of the Creative Media Authority, expressed pride in hosting the premiere and highlighted Abu Dhabi’s status as a top film and TV destination in the MENA region. Al Mazrouei emphasized the emirate’s ability to meet the needs of large-scale, complex productions and commended the fruitful collaboration with a genre-defining franchise like Mission: Impossible.
The success of filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout in Abu Dhabi played a pivotal role in convincing Paramount Pictures to return to ADFC for their next “Impossible Mission.” This time, they sought an airport terminal and a desert landscape that would elevate the production to new heights. The Commission supported the team by securing approvals and permits for filming at the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal and in Liwa, closely liaising with various stakeholders and government entities.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the filming in Abu Dhabi proceeded smoothly, thanks to the meticulous protocols established by ADFC. Over the course of 15 days in 2021, the production team meticulously crafted sets in Liwa and at the Midfield Terminal. They even captured stunning footage on the roof of the 742,000-square-meter terminal, home to the world’s longest single standing arch at 180 meters.
ADFC’s 30% cashback rebate scheme proved advantageous for the production, and numerous Abu Dhabi-based companies, specialist suppliers, 125 local freelance crew members, and 250 local extras lent their support to the endeavor. Furthermore, twofour54 offered comprehensive production services to the Mission: Impossible team. Their Tawasol team facilitated shooting permits and managed applications for various government services, ensuring a seamless and efficient production process.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One joins the ranks of 140 major productions filmed in Abu Dhabi over the past decade. Notable names such as Disney, Netflix, Legendary Pictures, and Universal Pictures have chosen the emirate as their preferred filming destination. The list of films shot in Abu Dhabi includes renowned titles such as Dune, Dune 2, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 6 Underground, Furious 7, and several Bollywood films.
