Everyone’s talking about the big news, the UAE is getting it’s first-ever casino! Wynn Resorts, an American publicly traded company from Nevada with a market cap of $8.79 billion recently announced a $4 billion resort in Ras Al Khaimah on the famous Marjan Islands and here’s everything you need to know:

Marjan Islands

The Marjan Islands are a man-made archipelago made up of four coral-shaped islands located off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate in the UAE. This development boasts pristine sandy beaches, world-class hotels and resorts, and modern leisure facilities. Situated against the backdrop of the Arabian Peninsula and with 23 kilometers of beachfront, Al Marjan Island provides easy access to both the Emirate’s natural and cultural attractions as RAK is a naturally mountainous area.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism

Once underutilized, this area is now poised to become a top tourist destination with five-star resorts, shops, and $7 million villas. As of 2024, at least 20 developers are actively building, with the completion of a lot of projects expected within the next six years (by 2030). Emaar PJSC, the largest developer in the UAE, is building The Address Hotel on the island with a completion date of Q4 2028 and prices starting from AED 1.4m. The Emirate is also expanding its airport to accommodate up to triple it’s current capacity to 2 million passengers annually by 2027 so people can fly directly into Ras Al Khaimah.

The Wynn RAK

The Wynn resort will have 1,542 private suites, 22 private villa estates for high rollers and will also include a 15,000-square-metre shopping esplanade and a 7,500-square-metre meetings and events center as well as multiple swimming and wading pools, water features, private cabanas, and tropical landscaping covering 3.6 hectares. The resort will also house 22 world renowned restaurants, lounges and bars and the main attraction, a full-service 18,500 square meter casino making it double the size of the casino floor in Vegas.

Implications for the region

Marjan Island aims to add a total of 9,000 hotel rooms and numerous luxury homes, with existing properties already showing a surge in demand and prices. As of now, 12 hotels are in the planning stages, with another seven under construction. The area’s old Arabian charm, combined with modern luxury developments offers a unique appeal.

Ras Al Khaimah has historically been a quieter alternative to Dubai. But learning from it’s larger sister city, it is leveraging its gorgeous 40-mile coastline and the first casino in the GCC to attract tourists, particularly from Russia and China.

The introduction of legalized gaming, a first for the UAE, adds a new dimension to the region’s appeal adding to the short list of major gaming cities including Macau in China, Las Vegas in the US and Monte Carlo in Monaco. This does pose a cultural shift for RAK and the country as gambling has traditionally been a touchy subject. That being said, as the political and social climate in the region has normalized over the past few years with Saudi’s push toward modernization, this is a chance for another Emirate to flourish and gain from the UAEs amazing progress.

Conclusion

However, for Ras Al Khaimah to sustain its growth, significant investments in infrastructure, restaurants, and retail are needed. While developers race to complete projects, the broader vision for the emirate includes creating a comprehensive tourism experience, much like Las Vegas, which is known for more than just gambling. The island’s high-end villas and luxury apartments, such as Emaar’s The Address Residences and Abu Dhabi’s Nikki Beach-branded homes, are attracting significant interest, promising a bright future for this burgeoning hotspot.