Wynn Resorts won in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday (4 October) when the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) issued its first commercial land-based casino gaming licence.
The company is already building its Wynn Al Marjan Island Resort, located in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE. Wynn’s project in RAK is a joint venture between affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding.
“We are under way with the construction of our resort in Ras Al Khaimah and look forward to being a key partner in the development of its tourism economy,” the company said via press release on Friday. It also thanked the GCGRA for its “confidence and trust” in approving the licence.
MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle stated at the Skift Global Forum in NYC that MGM had filed for a licence on 19 September. Hornbuckle said the MGM project would be in Abu Dhabi.
Resort will have gaming floor, 1,000+ hotel rooms
The multi-billion dollar Wynn project is scheduled to open in 2027. Al Marjan Island is 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport. It is about 65 miles from Dubai, the UAE’s largest city.
It will have a gaming floor, 1,000+ hotel rooms, convention facilities, shopping and restaurants.
Marjan is the “master-developer” of property in RAK, the northernmost of the UAE’s seven emirates. In this role, it is tasked by the government with developing the emirate as a tourism and investment destination.
Wynn CEO Craig Billings previously called the man-made island of Al Marjan “a pristine setting”. He also said it is “an ideal greenfield location for us to create the one-of-a-kind guest experiences” that Wynn is known for.
Wynn’s history building luxury resorts key
Marjan chief executive Abdulla Al Abdooli previously shared his enthusiasm about working with Wynn. He said the company’s history in developing integrated resorts should help ensure the new venue attracts tourists to the site.
“We are partnering with Wynn Resorts, one of the world’s most renowned integrated resort companies, which has a strong track record of developing luxury destinations with exceptional accommodation, dining, entertainment concepts and gaming facilities,” he said.
“By leveraging Wynn Resorts’ expertise in developing luxury hospitality destinations, the new development will raise the benchmark in luxury hospitality in the region. It will also create exceptional value to the Ras Al Khaimah economy and boost the leisure, business and MICE tourism sectors.”
