Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Premieres in Abu Dhabi, Showcasing Spectacular Locations
The highly-anticipated Middle East premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One took place at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Simon Pegg, along with director Christopher McQuarrie, who walked the red carpet to the excitement of fans and media.
The seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise was filmed in Abu Dhabi, specifically at the Midfield Terminal Building and the Liwa Desert, over a span of 15 days in 2021. The Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC), a part of the Creative Media Authority, provided full support for the production. The filming took place inside the terminal building, including on the roof of the impressive 742,000 square-meter structure and on the 180-meter longest single standing arch in the world. This marks the first time the public will have the opportunity to see inside the terminal.
The production involved intricate setups, such as the construction of an Arabian village in Liwa and the creation of complex sets at the terminal. These efforts required collaboration among multiple entities in Abu Dhabi, including twofour54, which provided comprehensive production services. Abu Dhabi Airports (AD Airports) and Etihad Airways, the official airline partner of the film, facilitated access to the Midfield Terminal Building and transportation for the cast and crew. Notably, scenes were also filmed aboard Etihad’s 787 Dreamliner.
An exclusive video showcasing behind-the-scenes footage and the technical complexity of the production in Abu Dhabi was shown at the premiere. The video, introduced by His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), provided a glimpse of the breathtaking action-packed scenes filmed in the city.
This marks the second time the Mission: Impossible franchise has chosen Abu Dhabi as a filming location. In 2018, the exhilarating HALO jump sequence for Mission: Impossible – Fallout was shot in the emirate.
Tom Cruise expressed his enthusiasm for filming in Abu Dhabi, noting the cinematic quality of the desert and the grandeur of the airport. Director Christopher McQuarrie emphasized the global scale of the film and the opportunity to shoot in extraordinary locations, including the Midfield Terminal Building, which offered a unique backdrop for action sequences. The team’s motivation extends beyond the action, as they appreciate the beauty of the locations and the cultures they celebrate through their filmmaking.
The premiere event showcased the collaborative efforts between the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Airways, and other entities in promoting Abu Dhabi as a prominent destination for international productions. The film industry in Abu Dhabi has flourished, attracting major productions and solidifying its position as a global hub for filmmaking.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is part of the extensive list of 140 major productions filmed in Abu Dhabi over the past decade. The city has collaborated with renowned companies such as Disney, Netflix, Legendary Pictures, and Universal Pictures, supporting blockbuster films including Dune, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 6 Underground, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Additionally, Abu Dhabi has served as a backdrop for successful Bollywood films.
