The National

But although Tom Cruise's antics on the Burj Khalifa might - quite understandably - be the headline grabbers, the Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol shoot in Dubai didn't simply revolve around one, rather impressively reckless Hollywood A-lister.

It was the promise of goat on the menu that prompted my visit to Asado, the Argentinean steak restaurant at The Palace-The Old Town. We sat outside at a table facing the Burj Dubai lake, the Khalifa looming in the background and every so often, we saw the tail end of the Dubai fountain. Goat or no goat, first impressions were good.

Depa, the Dubai interior contractor that fitted out the Burj Khalifa, is the latest company in the construction sector to warn that turmoil in the Middle East is driving down revenue. The delay of several large contracts in the region will "dampen full-year market expectations", it said yesterday.

First released online by www.msn.co.uk and later by television's Entertainment Tonight, the outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol reveal what was involved in the three and a half weeks of filming in Dubai last October.

When the world’s tallest building was officially opened on Monday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had an 828-metre surprise up his sleeve.

Launched two weeks ago, the service connects five destinations within the 500acre development that includes the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, but some bus drivers are struggling to navigate through tight spots designed for cars. The shuttle service is made up of three bright red 25-seater buses.

Dubai's stock market hit a new low as concerns grew over social unrest and its impact on stronger oil-rich economies in the region. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) slipped 3.5 per cent to 1,374.43 points and heavyweight stocks fell to new lows. Emaar Properties, the Dubai developer of the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, ended 6 per cent to Dh2.50, after its shares fell to 1-year low during intraday trading.

The Burj Khalifa is set to remain the world's tallest building for years to come despite a skyscraper building boom in China, according to new figures. Building data firm Emporis has compiled a list of the top 10 "future skyscrapers" – ones currently under construction that will be among the world's tallest when they are completed.

Now that Emaar Properties has written off its Dh172 million investment in Dubai Bank, investor attention is turning to the prospects of its much larger stake in Amlak, the troubled mortgage company. Amlak is carrying about Dh4 billion worth of property on its balance sheet at the original acquisiti0on costs.

The Metropolitan Hotel in Dubai is to be knocked down to make way for a Las Vegas-inspired luxury hotel project. The US$1.33 billion (Dh4.8bn) development on Sheikh Zayed Road is to include three luxury hotels with a total of 1,616 rooms and a theatre big enough to seat more than 1,000, Al Habtoor Group announced yesterday.