Wynn UAE Could Feature More Casinos Than Expected

Posted on: February 27, 2025, 05:41h. 

Last updated on: February 28, 2025, 09:18h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • Wynn UAE property could have multiple casinos
  • Amenities, entertainment expected to remain focus of venue

Wynn Resorts’ integrated resort project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could feature two casinos, or one more than previously expected, and it’s possible that number could swell to three over time.

Wynn UAE
A rendering of Wynn’s UAE casino hotel. The property could have more casinos than previously expected. (Image: YouTube)

Located in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Khaimah is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in early 2027. Speaking at the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference in Ras Al Khaimah, David Loiseau — vice president of sales at the venue — said the integrated resort could feature two or three gaming areas.

We’ll have a sky gaming casino on the 22nd floor and the main casino. We’re putting all the ingredients together to make sure that entertainment will be at the heart of this destination,” he said.

Loiseau noted that Wynn isn’t “bringing Las Vegas to Ras Al Khaimah,” but implied the operator could draw some inspiration from its home market as it ramps up the UAE property. Wynn Al Marjan Island will be the first regulated gaming venue in the history of the Arab world.

Wynn’s UAE Casino Details

It’s expected that the main casino at Wynn Al Marjan Island will occupy 224K square feet. While that’s larger than the gaming space at Wynn Las Vegas, it’s a scant percentage of the UAE property’s overall square footage.

Previous estimates indicated the main casino would control just 4% of Wynn Al Marjan Island’s 5.6 million square feet. In Las Vegas and Macau, Wynn has a reputation for focusing on amenities and entertainment while not over-emphasizing gaming — traits that likely worked in the operator’s favor in the UAE due to the region’s long-held anti-betting views.

The original plans for the venue didn’t mention a second gaming area, but in a statement to David O’Neil of Skit, Wynn acknowledged that the sky gaming area could become a reality, but a third gaming space isn’t in the works.

“In addition to the main gaming floor, there will also be an upper floor private gaming area, or salon privé, which is common in integrated resorts,” according to the statement.

Wynn Doesn’t Need to Overemphasize UAE Casino

Last October, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) granted the gaming license for the Wynn venue, and while that was a major step in terms of bolstering the long-term economic viability of the property, the operator doesn’t need to make gaming the focal point of the integrated resort.

One reason for that is that the GCGRA is unlikely to approve other casino licenses anytime soon, meaning the Wynn gaming venue will enjoy a multiyear monopoly.

Second, Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,500 top-tier hotel rooms, nearly two dozen eateries, clubs, an entertainment venue, and other nongaming amenities aimed at luring guests to the property.