Dubai: The UAE highly values innovation and creativity as key catalysts that enrich the human experience, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shaikh Mohammad also said that Dubai spares no effort in supporting innovation in various fields of cultural life, including cinema.
His statement came on the occasion of the completion of location filming in Dubai of Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Shaikh Mohammad met the stars and crew of the Hollywood movie late last week.
The team wrapped up almost a month of shooting in Dubai, the longest period the team has stayed among other cities to be featured in the film.
The star of the movie Tom Cruise, director Brad Bird and producers Jeffrey Chernov and Bryan Burk, expressed sincere thanks and gratitude on behalf of their team to Shaikh Mohammad for the warm reception and generosity they found in Dubai throughout their stay. They also praised the ultimate cooperation extended by various Dubai government departments, which made their mission "possible" without any hurdles of delays.
The meeting with the Mission Impossible team was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline Group, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.
As a token of appreciation to Dubai and its Ruler, the film team handed Shaikh Mohammad memorial gifts; a "clapper board" carrying signatures of the stars and makers of the film and a director's chair with Shaikh Mohammad's name on it.
Gratitude expressed
A similar gift was presented to Shaikh Hamdan, showing gratitude for Dubai's generous hospitality.
Concluding their successful trip to Dubai, the team said that government support, reliable infrastructure, cultural diversity and rich variety of shooting locations make Dubai a sought-after destination for international professionals seeking new filming locations.
The three previous films in the Mission: Impossible series have together generated revenues exceeding $1.4 billion worldwide.
