Rolex Store Expected at Wynn UAE Casino Hotel

• Iconic watch brand is beloved in United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Retail space vital revenue generator for gaming operators

It appears likely that when Wynn Al Marjan Island opens in early 2027, the casino resort’s roster of retail stores will, in some form, include Rolex.

As is the case with many of the world’s glitzier integrated resorts, including some on the Las Vegas Strip and in Macau, the upcoming Wynn property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is slated to feature tony retail outlets. Wynn Al Marjan Island — the first regulated casino hotel in the history of the Middle East — is expected to feature approximately 40 high-end shops to compete with Fashion Avenue in the Dubai Mall.

During a webcast last week, Tariq Bsharat, chief strategy and business development officer of Marjan, said demand for retail space at the yet-to-be-completed gaming venue has been robust.

It’s actually oversubscribed — every major brand wants to be here,” he said.

He couldn’t say with certainty that Rolex will be among the retailers at the Wynn venue, but he appeared confident that will be the case.

How Rolex Can Join Wynn UAE Casino Retail Portfolio

Wynn Las Vegas is home to an array of luxury retail shops, including a Rolex store managed by Watches of Switzerland Group.

The publication noted Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons runs the Rolex shop at Fashion Avenue in the Dubai Mall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the firm has rights of first refusal for a related outlet at the Wynn integrated resort. Occupying nearly 9,200 square feet, the Rolex store in Dubai is the largest of its kind in the world.

“It’s not appropriate to name names here, but I will say this will compete with Fashion Avenue in Dubai Mall. Every top brand you’d expect will be there,” observed Bsharat. “I wish we had more space. Of course, I think Rolex will be there, either directly or through a multi-brand watch retailer. I’m sure Rolex will be there, yes.”

Retail Stores are Revenue Drivers for Casinos

Malls and retail space are money makers for gaming companies because shop operators pay rent to the casino in which they occupy space, providing the gaming entity with an added revenue stream. That explains why many of the higher-end casinos in Las Vegas and Macau devote substantial space to retailers.

It’s a playbook deployed at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, where in addition to Watches of Switzerland, shops include Breitling, Brioni, Cartier, Hermes, and Omega, among others.

Bsharat told WatchPro that a high-end retailer with a location inside a Las Vegas or Macau casino can generate annual sales of $100 million to $150 million — figures that are expected at Wynn Al Marjan Island.