The first regulated casino in 50 years of UAE history
The UAE has never had a casino. Not in Dubai, not in Abu Dhabi, not anywhere in the federation until the GCGRA was established in September 2023 and the regulator awarded its first land-based commercial gaming licence to Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC on 4 October 2024 for the Wynn Al Marjan Island project. Until that licence was issued, every previous attempt at structured gambling in the Gulf had ended either as a non-starter (Sharjah’s short-lived casino concept in the late 1970s) or as a soft-money workaround (pari-mutuel raffle systems at Meydan Racecourse).
Wynn Al Marjan Island represents the architectural and commercial centrepiece of the GCGRA’s integrated-resort model. The structure follows the Las Vegas / Macau template where a casino floor is one of perhaps fifteen revenue components in a property; the resort exists as a tourism asset, with gaming as one anchor among hospitality, dining, retail, conferencing and entertainment.
The numbers
Site & investment
- 60-hectare beachfront site on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah
- USD 5.1 billion total project cost (revised up from initial USD 3.9B)
- 420 m private beachfront
- Deep-water marina
- 12 swimming pools
Rooms & suites
- 1,542 keys total
- 1,217 standard rooms
- 297 Enclave suites
- 2 Royal Apartments
- 4 Garden Townhomes
- 10 Marina Estates
- 22 private villas
Gaming & F&B
- 225,000 sq ft casino gaming floor
- 20,900 sq m main casino
- 22 restaurants, lounges and bars
- Theatre & nightclub
- Five-star spa
- 15,000 sq m shopping promenade
- 7,500 sq m convention space
Slot and table counts have not been publicly disclosed. Wynn has historically opened with a mix of approximately 1,500–2,000 slot machines and 200–300 table games in its Las Vegas and Macau properties; expect numbers in that order of magnitude unless the regulator imposes specific caps.
Timeline — how we got here, what’s next
- September 2023: GCGRA established by federal decree.
- 2023–early 2024: Pre-licensing consultations between RAK authorities, Wynn Resorts, Marjan and the GCGRA. Site preparation begins on Al Marjan Island.
- October 2024: Wynn Al Marjan Island licence formally issued to Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC. First commercial gaming licence in UAE history.
- 2025: Vertical construction. Topping-out scheduled for end of year.
- December 2025: Structural top-out completed.
- Mid-2026: Internal fit-out, vendor integration, hiring (target headcount is approximately 7,000 staff on opening).
- Late 2026: Reservation booking expected to open.
- Q1 / March 2027: Target opening.
Wynn’s public statements have remained on schedule throughout the project, with one minor caveat issued in early 2026 noting potential supply-chain risk that could move opening by a quarter. Our base-case assumption is March 2027.
What’s inside the property
The gaming floor
The 225,000 sq ft gaming floor (20,900 sq m main casino footprint) will be the UAE’s first regulated land-based casino space. Expect the standard Wynn mix of slots, table games (blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, plus regional and proprietary variants), high-limit rooms, a poker room, and bingo. Vendor approvals under the GCGRA process so far include Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder, Novomatic, Konami and Scientific Games — the entire major-vendor mainstream — so the slot floor will feel familiar to anyone who has played at Wynn Las Vegas or Wynn Macau.
The minimum age for gaming-floor entry is 21, consistent with all GCGRA-licensed products. Emirates ID or a valid passport will be required for entry verification. Dress code is expected to follow the broader Wynn aesthetic (smart casual, no beachwear on the casino floor) though Wynn has not formally published the dress policy at the time of this page.
Hospitality & dining
The 1,542 keys break down across standard rooms, Enclave suites (Wynn’s mid-tier suite category), Royal Apartments (the top-tier marketed suites), and standalone villa products including Garden Townhomes and Marina Estates. Wynn’s pricing structure in other markets puts standard room rates at the upper end of luxury but below ultra-luxury independents; expect entry rack rates in the AED 1,500–3,000 range per night for standard rooms with Enclave suites at AED 5,000+.
22 F&B venues spans Wynn’s international restaurant brands plus debut concepts. Wynn Las Vegas has historically been a strong food destination on its own merits; the Al Marjan property is being briefed similarly.
The rest of the property
A theatre is being built for residency shows and touring productions. The nightclub format follows the XS / Encore Beach Club lineage from Las Vegas, calibrated to local norms. The spa is full-service, with the Wynn brand’s standard wellness positioning. The marina is deep-water and is being positioned as a Mediterranean-style yachting destination. The 15,000 sq m retail promenade is being designed as a curated experience rather than a generic mall.
Why Ras Al Khaimah?
RAK is the most gaming-permissive emirate. It is also the natural geography for a beachfront integrated-resort property at this scale — Al Marjan Island is a man-made archipelago purpose-built for tourism development, with infrastructure that didn’t need retrofitting to support a 7,000-staff resort. The emirate’s leadership has been the most publicly aligned with the GCGRA’s commercial-gaming agenda since the regulator was established.
Geographically, the property sits a 45–60 minute drive north of Dubai International Airport via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, or a shorter direct connection via Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. RAK Airport is being expanded ahead of the resort opening, with additional international routes announced for late 2026.
Bookings — what to expect
Reservations are expected to open in late 2026. The standard Wynn booking pattern starts with a soft-open priority window for existing Wynn loyalty members (Wynn Insider tier and above) approximately 3–6 months ahead of public booking, followed by a public-launch window with general availability. Expect rate volatility around the opening weekend in March 2027 — demand will spike across regional press, regional UHNW circles, and international Wynn loyalty.
We’re running a free notification list below that will alert you the day reservations open publicly. We don’t take payment for this and we don’t share the list. It exists to make sure you don’t miss the booking window.
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FAQ
When can I book a room?
Bookings are expected to open in late 2026. We’re running a no-cost waitlist to notify you when reservations go live publicly.
How many slot machines and tables will it have?
Wynn has not publicly disclosed slot or table counts yet. Based on Wynn’s Las Vegas and Macau benchmarks, expect approximately 1,500–2,000 slots and 200–300 table games unless the GCGRA imposes specific caps. We’ll update this page when the operator publishes confirmed numbers.
Is the casino legal under UAE federal law?
Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 (effective 1 June 2026) removed the gambling chapter from the UAE Civil Transactions Law, making GCGRA-licensed gaming contracts civilly enforceable. The casino licence itself was issued in October 2024 by the relevant RAK authority and is reflected on the GCGRA register.
Will tourists be able to gamble?
Yes — the integrated-resort model is designed for both tourists and UAE residents aged 21+. Entry requires Emirates ID or a valid passport at the casino floor.
What’s the dress code?
Wynn has not formally published the Al Marjan dress policy. The Wynn brand standard is smart casual with no beachwear on the casino floor; expect that to apply here too, calibrated to local norms.
Is alcohol served on the gaming floor?
Alcohol is available at licensed venues in the UAE, including international-resort settings, and Wynn is positioned for it. Specific casino-floor policies will be set by the operator within the GCGRA’s licensing framework. We’ll confirm once policy is published.
How do I get there from Dubai?
By car, approximately 45–60 minutes north on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport will be expanded ahead of opening. A direct shuttle service from Dubai International is rumoured but not yet announced.
What about online play?
For online gaming the licensed option for UAE residents is Play971, not Wynn. Wynn Al Marjan is land-based only at present.
Will the opening date slip?
Wynn’s public statements have remained on schedule. A 2026 update noted potential supply-chain risk that could move opening by approximately one quarter; the base case remains March 2027. We’ll update this page if Wynn issues a revised opening target.
Verification & sources
This page was last verified on 4 June 2026. Sources include the GCGRA licensee register, Wynn Resorts investor materials, iGaming Business and Hotelier Middle East coverage, and Wynn Al Marjan Island’s own pre-launch site. Construction progress and the opening target are subject to revision — we update this page when the operator issues new statements.
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By Khalid Al Mansoori · Last verified 
