Mission Impossible movie brought in extra Dhs81 million to UAE economy

The hollywood blockbuster movie ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ brought in a whopping Dhs81 million in extra revenue to the UAE.

Dubai hosted the worldwide premiere of the film and played a starring role.

Tom Cruise’s daring Burj Khalifa climb helped pull in more than Dhs2.5 billion in ticket sales across the world - more than any of his previous movies have taken.

Mission Impossible movie brought in extra Dhs81 million to UAE economy

Abdulhamid Juma, chairman of the Dubai International Film Festival - at which the movie premiered - told 7DAYS at a film summit in Dubai yesterday that he was “delighted” with the economic benefits. He said the Dhs81 million was from money spent by the production team and increased tourism.

“It’s a lot of business,” he said.

More than 600 people worked on ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ in Dubai and 250 of those employees were UAE-based.

Asked when the next big Hollywood blockbuster was set to film in Dubai, Juma smiled: “Soon. I can’t share it with you… (but) soon. It’s a big production,” he said teasingly.

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... but is there a film industry in the Emirates?

THE head of the Dubai International Film Festival believes the UAE’s film industry is “non-existent”.

Abdulhamid Juma, chairman and CEO of the festival, said that when it comes to filmmaking, the UAE is stuck on the cutting room floor.

“As we speak, there is no such thing as a Gulf, UAE or Dubai film industry. It doesn’t exist,” said Juma.

“A film industry has pillars. We have some pillars, some we are working on and some are missing. We have Studio City coming for filmmakers, we have government support and we have filmmakers. What’s missing are really big funds, film schools and training for talent.”

Michael Garin, CEO of Abu Dhabi-based film firm Image Nation, did not agree with Juma’s take.

He said:“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t exist, that’s too harsh. It’s in its nascence.”