Wynn Al Marjan Island, a joint venture between Wynn Resorts, Marjan, and RAK Hospitality Holding, is poised to open in March 2027 as the UAE’s first fully integrated gaming resort. The project has breached its 61st floor on the 70‐storey tower, and developers say construction is progressing “on plan.”
The resort will feature over 1,542 hotel rooms, more than 22 restaurants and lounges, and a hotel tower reaching 305 metres. A sky gaming area on the 22nd floor and a main casino spanning roughly 20,900 square metres will anchor its gaming facilities. Non‐gaming features include a five‐star spa, a marina, 420 metres of private beach, multiple pools with private villas and cabanas, and a premium shopping parterre.
Regulatory foundations for the resort rest on the licence Wynn Resorts secured in late 2024. It was awarded the UAE’s first Commercial Gaming Facility Operator licence by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, a newly established federal regulator tasked with overseeing commercial gaming across the country.
Financially, the undertaking is valued at about US$5.1 billion, higher than earlier estimates. Wynn Resorts holds a 40 per cent equity stake in the venture, with the rest contributed by local partners. A financing facility of some US$2.4 billion supports its development.
Beyond the flagship resort, Wynn and its partners have set aside land for a second integrated resort plot on Al Marjan Island. The designated area spans approximately 593,870 square feet of existing territory and nearly 892,307 square feet to be reclaimed, bringing the total to about 1.49 million square feet. If developed, the second resort would have Wynn or an affiliate as sole casino operator. No decisions will be taken on that project until the opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island.
Economic aspirations tied to the development are ambitious. The resort is expected to contribute significantly to Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism appeal, with projections of 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030. The emirate is also leveraging related developments, such as RAK Central, a large mixed-use business and residential district, to enhance infrastructure and growth.
Leadership changes in regulation reflect the seriousness with which the UAE government is approaching the shift into commercial gaming. The GCGRA is led by industry veterans: Jim Murren serves as chairman, and Kevin Mullally, ex-legal officer for Gaming Laboratories International, is chief executive.
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