Wynn Resorts made history by being the first company to obtain a land-based commercial gaming license in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The license was granted by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) on October 4.
This milestone allows Wynn to operate casinos in the region. Thus, the company is already in the process of building the Wynn Al Marjan Island Resort, located in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). The construction is the result of a joint venture between affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding.
The company said in an official statement: “We are underway 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.”
Wynn Resorts and Marjan highlighted their gratitude to GCGRA for the confidence shown in the approval of the license.
Market expansion and project details
Wynn is not alone in the race for the UAE gaming market. MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle revealed during the Skift Global Forum held in New York that MGM had applied for a license on September 19.
MGM‘s proposal aims to build a resort in Abu Dhabi, which reinforces the growing interest of large groups in developing casinos and resorts in the region.
The Wynn resort is being designed to become a major tourism and entertainment center, and is scheduled to open in 2027.
Strategically located, Al Marjan Island is 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and approximately 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
In addition, the project is large and will feature a games room, more than 1,000 hotel rooms, convention centers, shops and a variety of restaurants.
Marjan, the master developer of properties in RAK, is responsible for transforming the emirate into a tourism and investment destination.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, praised the chosen location, saying that the artificial island of Al Marjan offers “a pristine setting.” He reinforced that the location is perfect for creating the exclusive experiences that Wynn is known for around the world.
Collaboration between Wynn Resorts and Marjan
The partnership between Wynn Resorts and Marjan combines strategic strengths, promoting significant contributions to tourism in Ras Al Khaimah.
Abdulla Al Abdooli, CEO of Marjan, previously expressed his excitement about the collaboration. “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 accommodations, restaurants, entertainment concepts and gaming facilities,” he stated.
Al Abdooli believes that with Wynn’s expertise in developing luxury hospitality destinations, the new venture will set new standards in the industry.
Furthermore, he predicts that the project will create significant value for Ras Al Khaimah’s economy. Thus, boosting the leisure, business and tourism MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sectors.
