The United Arab Emirates’ first gaming resort of Wynn Al Marjan Island being built at the cost of $3.9 billion is expected to generate an annual cash flow of $400 million to $600 million.
Las Vegas-based casino operator Wynn Resorts said that the resort will be built at Ras Al-Khaimah featuring exceptional entertainment and gaming amenities.
However, given the advantages of location demographics, wealth, and tourism, long-term earnings potential could be even greater at Wynn Al Marjan Island.
Preliminary construction work has begun on Wynn Al Marjan Island set on a man-made and hotel-studded promontory. The resort will feature 1,500 rooms, 24 dining and lounge experiences, spa and wellness services, a high-end shopping esplanade, a state-of-the-art events centre, a theatre, and more. It will also offer entertainment experiences including nightly laser and light shows, and will open in early 2027, Wynn said, revising an earlier schedule of 2026.
About an hour’s drive from the commercial hub of Dubai, the 115 acres property, described by analysts as one of the most exciting growth prospects in the gaming industry globally, will be called Wynn Al Marjan Island.
Wynn’s 40% stakes
Julie Cameron-Doe, Chief Financial Officer, Wynn Resorts, said the project will drive strong long-term returns to shareholders. Wynn will have a 40% stake in the multi-billion project, which will also be the company’s first beachfront property. The firm is working with local partners Marjan LLC and RAK Hospitality Holding LLC on the project.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, said that meticulous planning and consideration was carried out for the unique location of Wynn Al Marjan Island during the past year of programming and conceptualization.
Wynn operates casinos in Las Vegas and Boston as well as Macau, a Chinese territory close to Hong Kong.
A liberalising move
The UAE is one of the prime tourist destinations in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region, and Ras Al Khaimah is one of the drivers of that enthusiasm.
Gambling is generally prohibited under Islamic laws in the oil-rich Gulf state. But Ras Al-Khaimah’s tourism development authority last year announced a new body to regulate “integrated resorts”, including gaming facilities.
The UAE, whose population is 90 percent foreign, has made a series of liberalizing moves as it faces increased regional competition for talent and tourism, notably from neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
A game changer
With Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore saturated, global casino operators are looking for new expansion frontiers in the US and abroad. With Wynn Al Marjan Island, the operator is beating rivals to the punch to establish a presence in previously untapped regions.
The Wynn Al Marjan Island could become a game changer for Wynn itself and the global gaming industry. The UAE project diversifies a portfolio that’s heavily dependent on Macau.
If gaming proves to be a success in Ras Al Khaimah, other emirates could also consider liberalizing their stances. That could be a boon for Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International, both developing non-gaming hotels in the UAE.
Expect Luxury
In the US and Macau, Wynn’s five integrated resorts are among the poshest in the world, with the accolades to back that up. Wynn Al Marjan Island will keep with that tradition, which is necessary given the competitive landscape of Al Marjan Island.
With a rapidly growing portfolio of luxury five-star hotels and residential developments that offer a wide range of amenities and services and boasting over 7.8 kilometers of sparkling beaches and twenty-three kilometers of waterfront, Al Marjan Island is today seamlessly transitioning into a world-class resort destination.
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