Mission Impossible 4 starts soon

Dubai has a new mission: To play starring role in the upcoming Mission Impossible 4.

The Gulf city that hosts the world's tallest building said Tuesday filming will begin on the next installment of the Tom Cruise spy franchise in the coming weeks.

Dubai's media office says the sheikdom expects to play host to more than 400 members of the Mission Impossible 4 crew and cast for at least three weeks.

Dubai in recent years has bankrolled studio facilities and an annual film festival in an effort to establish itself as a regional moviemaking hub.

Among the few western films in which it has featured prominently is political thriller Syriana. Last year's spy-themed Duplicity briefly featured exterior shots of Dubai.