Wynn UAE Casino Resort Almost 60% Complete
Posted on: June 3, 2025, 11:22h.
Last updated on: June 3, 2025, 11:40h.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island is rapidly progressing
- Slated to open in early 2027, the UAE venue will be the region’s first casino hotel
Wynn Resorts’ Wynn Al Marjan Island in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making fast progress on the construction with a new report indicating the casino hotel is nearly 60% complete, up from 55% last November.
Located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Wynn Al Marjan Island sits on more than 60 hectares and draws some inspiration from the operator’s famed Las Vegas Strip properties. Arabian Business reported that the UAE venue is nearly 60% complete, indicating the frequently mentioned early 2027 opening date remains in play.
As of last November, construction workers were finishing one floor of the UAE hotel tower per week and had completed 26 floors. There are 9,100 construction workers on site daily, and more than 100 concrete trucks delivering payloads to the property. Wynn and its local partners are aiming to have the hotel tower topped off by the end of this year.
Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,542 guestrooms — the bulk of which are completed. The rooms are designed to mirror the opulence found at Wynn’s other integrated resorts, but to also reflect local customs and traditions. For example, sleeping quarters are closed off from other areas of the room and it’s possible for a husband and wife to share a room without the man having to see the woman, according to Arabian Business.
Wynn Already Staffing UAE Casino Hotel
Wynn is self-funding its 40% share of the $5.1 billion integrated resort and it’s already making moves to ensure the venue is ready to go on day one.
That includes having the hiring portal open now, which could ensure consumer-facing staff are trained in Wynn culture and methodologies well in advance of opening day. Max Topainer, former COO of Wynn Las Vegas, is moving to the UAE to oversee the venue with Arabian Business reporting that he’ll be joined by 200 other Wynn staffers from around the world.
It’s expected that most, if not all, of the higher-ranking staff of Wynn Al Marjan Island be in the UAE at least six months prior to the casino hotel’s opening to ensure a smooth transition.
Las Vegas-based Wynn is making other moves in advance of the UAE property’s debut. In January, the operator announced the purchase of the Crown London casino in London. That’s a small gaming venue not comparable to the typical Wynn property, but the purchase is potentially useful as it relates to the UAE because many Crown members hail from the Middle East and are frequent travelers to the region.
Preparation Essential for Wynn UAE Casino
Previous estimates indicated the main casino would control just 4% of Wynn Al Marjan Island’s 5.6 million square feet, which is to say gaming isn’t central to the allure of the property. That’s par for the course with Wynn venues, which largely focus on amenities such as high-end eateries, entertainment, and plush accommodations for guests.
Still, the gaming element can’t be overlooked because Wynn Al Marjan Island is the first regulated venue of its kind in the history of the Arab world. Additionally, the property is expected to hold a lengthy monopoly in the UAE because it’s likely to be several years before regulators there approve another casino.
Though unlikely to ever rival Las Vegas or Macau, the UAE could become one of the largest casino markets in the world when it fully ramps up. Some analysts estimate Wynn Al Marjan Island could generate up to $1.4 billion in annual gross gaming revenue (GGR), positioning the broader UAE casino market — assuming more gaming venues are approved — to reach $3 billion to $5 billion in yearly GGR.
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