The seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible film franchise has just hit cinemas with Tom Cruise again in the lead role as Ethan Hunt.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was filmed on several locations in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s how you can “hunt” down Tom’s blockbuster moves.
Liwa Oasis
In the movie’s trailer, Tom Cruise is seen horse riding across the Liwa desert, a 90-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi.
With many desert safari activities and hotel options on offer, visitors can easily explore Liwa, which is situated southwest of Abu Dhabi on the edge of the great Empty Quarter desert (Rub’ al Khali).
Featuring soaring dunes and impressive valleys, the desert is a playground for fans of adventure and adrenaline, with dune bashing and surfing two great ways to explore the sandy expanse.
Expert guides from respected tour operators will ensure visitors have the most fun while being safe.
Most desert safaris also include sandboarding, quad biking, falcon experiences, camel trekking, visits to camel farms and traditional meals under the stars.
Tour operators will pick you up from wherever you’re staying and take you back home.
Rooms with a view
For a fully immersive experience in the desert, visitors can opt to stay in one of the many hotels found here.
Perched on the edge of the desert is the Tilal Liwa Hotel, a secluded luxury hideaway. The hotel boasts impressive restaurants, a large outdoor pool with great views of the dunes and a range of desert activities for all ages.
Travellers could also choose to stay at Liwa Hotel, a desert resort located at the gateway of the Empty Quarter overlooking red dunes on one side and the green of the Liwa Oasis on the other.
Surrounded by 10 hectares of lush, manicured gardens, the hotel has an array of well-appointed deluxe rooms, suites and luxurious private villas.
Spa facilities have been enhanced with the addition of Ayurvedic massage and yoga experiences for guests to unwind and rejuvenate. Other activities available through the resort include camel riding, sandboarding, quad biking and trekking.
For adventurous travellers Liwa Nights Glamping Retreat provides a unique experience for those who want to switch off and get a taste of traditional Bedouin culture while enjoying sweeping views of the desert in a luxury tent.
The retreat offers many activities such as organic date farm tours, historical fort tours, falconry and camel tours.
Skip to the Louvre
The Louvre Abu Dhabi also has a starring role in the seventh Mission: Impossible film.
This is the region’s first universal museum, exploring the links between global civilisations through time and revealing stories of cultural connections.
Its galleries feature works of global historical and cultural significance spanning human history and there’s also a dedicated Children’s Museum.
The building is a work of art in itself – the soaring dome roof was inspired by traditional thatched palm leaves and is constructed from 7,850 individual stars repeated at different sizes and angles, forming a “rain of light” effect when the sun shines through.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is also giving visitors the opportunity to reconnect and find peace through the healing powers of nature and art by offering yoga sessions under its famous dome.
Held by highly experienced practitioners, the restorative yoga sessions are a great way to find inner Zen while in the surroundings of the architectural gem.
