The project of a casino in the United Arab Emirates by Wynn Resorts

Wynn Resorts hotel and casino general manager Craig Scott Billings has confirmed that the group will open a land-based casino Inside the luxurious construction complex in the United Arab Emirates, a major first in this Gulf region. The casino, announced for the first time in January, will be located on an island off Ras Al Khaimah and is expected to open its doors in 2026.

A large and ambitious project

According to local newspapers, the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is currently drafting gambling laws for casinos, based on Singapore and US regulations. It was also confirmed that the property will cost $2 billion , according Hotelier Middle East . The casino will have a area of ​​approximately 18,500 square meters , which will make one of the 10 largest casinos in the world and nearly twice the size of the Wynn property in Las Vegas.

« We will be operating alone which makes the project quite exciting it will be a bit bigger than Wynn Las Vegas Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said during the third quarter earnings call this month. " When you think about a market like this one where for a certain period you're going to be the exclusive supplier, it is impossible to settle for building a cheap casino, but you will keep this feeling of motivation. . »

According to the call, Wynn places great importance on the project, with Billings noting that the project has " a very high return opportunity " for the company. " It's really central to our design and development efforts right now. . »

At the beginning of the year, the company announced a new connection with Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. He stated: " The United Arab Emirates are already a significant destination not only for the region, but for Europe, for the British, for the Germans, for people from all over the world. So, this is a significant opportunity to acquire customers and a true physical extension of our brand. ».

The United Arab Emirates finally allow casino games on their territory

The tourism development authority of the emirate has already created a division specifically tasked with regulating integrated resorts, with a new entertainment and gaming regulation department. The aim is to examine the social, cultural, and environmental landscape of the emirate and cover licenses, taxation, operational procedures, and consumer guarantees, according to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is one of the smallest and least famous of the seven states of the United Arab Emirates . Inside the Dubai Mall, Caesar Palace has a resort that does not have a casino and MGM Resorts International is currently building a resort.

The arrival of the casino is an important moment for the Gulf, a region that generally imposes stricter rules than other countries in the Middle East. The project to open a new casino is part of the context of intense competition in the region. The United Arab Emirates is notably trying to counter Saudi Arabia's rapid opening to become an important tourist destination.