Tom Cruise coming to Abu Dhabi for Mission: Impossible premiere

Emirates Palace will host the region's first screening of the film, parts of which were shot locally

Tom Cruise on the film's set in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Film Commission

Abu Dhabi is to host the Middle East premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

The regional premiere of the movie, the seventh in the hugely popular Mission: Impossible franchise, is to take place at Emirates Palace hotel on June 26 with cast and crew, including Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, set to walk the red carpet.

“Hosting the premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is an honour for Abu Dhabi and is also a reflection of the position the emirate holds as one of Mena’s top film and TV locations,” said Khalfan Al Mazrouei, acting director general of Creative Media Authority.

“We are proud to have worked with such a genre-defining franchise once again and it demonstrates how Abu Dhabi has everything filmmakers need to successfully complete such large, complex productions.”

Filming for the latest Mission: Impossible took place in the capital over 15 days in 2021, with locations in the Liwa desert and at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Midfield Terminal.

After more than 18 months of filming, McQuarrie shared a heartfelt message on social media in September 2021.

“All you need is good people,” wrote McQuarrie on Instagram, alongside a picture of himself and Cruise.

“To our indomitable, unstoppable, unrelenting cast and crew: even under the best of circumstances, it should have been impossible. Even having seen it, we can’t believe what you’ve achieved. Words can never adequately express our gratitude and admiration – not only to you, but to your loved ones. You are the best in the world.”

McQuarrie also praised Abu Dhabi for its hospitality after filming wrapped in February 2021.

"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well," McQuarrie, quoting French poet Antoine de Saint-Exupery, added, alongside a behind-the-camera shot taken during filming in the emirate's dunes.

"Grace and graciousness, magic and majesty, hospitality and hope. Of the many challenges we’ve faced on our journey, none will be greater than outshining the gifts Abu Dhabi has given us. Thanks to our extraordinary local cast, crew and the very fine people of Abu Dhabi. We shall most sincerely miss you until we see you again."

This is the third time the film franchise has come to the UAE. The first was for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Released in 2011, the box office hit features what is arguably Cruise's most famous stunt, where he scales Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower. Cruise later returned to Abu Dhabi to film a scene where he performed a Halo (high altitude low opening) jump over the dunes for 2018's Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is among 140 major productions to have been shot in Abu Dhabi in the past 10 years. Others include Dune and Dune: Part Two, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 6 Underground and Furious 7, as well as Bollywood hits such as Vikram Vedha, Tiger Zinda Hai and Bharat.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will be released in UAE cinemas on July 13