Among Maryam’s strategic responsibilities as she looks to build Abu Dhabi as a sustainable regional hub for media and entertainment is to develop local talent. Initiatives include not only skills-training and work experience but programmes designed to raise awareness that storytelling is a career worth pursuing as an Emirati. The 30% rebate that her Authority offers on production spend also seems to be working: in February, Tom Cruise & Co returned to UAE to film scenes for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT, seven years since he was filmed hanging off the Burj Khalifa in a previous installment of the blockbuster.