Ras al-Khaimah signs a contract with Wynn Resorts, the world’s largest casino company

Casino giant Wynn Resorts inks a multibillion-dollar deal with the emirate that will see the construction of a luxury hotel consisting of a ‘gaming’ area.

Hotel and casino giant operator Wynn Resorts recently issued a statement saying that it will construct a luxury resort in Ras al-Khaimah in the UAE, consisting of a gaming area.

The Nevada-based casino giant announced a multibillion-dollar deal on Tuesday with the emirate. The deal will see the casino constructing a 1,000-room luxury hotel that will consist of 10 restaurants and lounges, a convention facility, a spa, shopping venues, and of course, a gaming area.

Wynn wasn’t clear on whether the gaming would include gambling.

The news coincided with a statement issued by the Ras al-Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) that announced the creation of a completely new section known as the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation, a clear indication that entertainment regulations could be relaxed.

According to the statement, the division will be responsible for governing “integrated resorts,” which encompass hotel operations, spas, restaurants, convention centers, retail stores, and “gaming.” Integrated resorts are hotels that include casinos and several other entertainment options. The first task for the fresh agency, according to RAKTDA, will be a regulatory framework aimed at ensuring “the responsible practice of recreational gaming at all levels.”

The government communications office based in Ras al-Khaimah, RAK Hospitality Holding, RAKTDA, and Wynn Resorts have all declined to comment as to whether matters to do with gambling will be allowed in the emirate. But on the other hand, diplomats say that the UAE may be compelled to allow it as part of broader legislative reforms that are aimed at maintaining its competitiveness as both a business and tourist hub, especially in the face of increasing regional competition.

It was in April when Dubai, the UAE’s typically most liberal emirate, quashed rumors that it was awarding casinos with licenses. Caesars Entertainment opened its first non-gaming project in 2018, a resort located on Dubai’s Bluewaters Island. The Wynn Resort is expected to open later in 2026, according to Ras al-Khaimah authorities and Wynn. It will be constructed on Al Marjan, a man-made island off the coast of Ras al-Khaimah.

The above isn’t all. Three other luxurious Las Vegas bran hotels from casino operator MGM Resorts are currently being developed on another man-made land in Dubai that’s dubbed The Island. They are all set to open in 2022.

While the consumption of alcohol is permitted in the United Arab Emirates, all forms of gambling, which is prohibited in Islam and in the entire 6 GCC republics, hos no place there. The UAE announced one of the most comprehensive law reforms in the Gulf state’s history last year. In the reform, premarital sexual encounters along with alcohol consumption were decriminalized.

Other recent developments in the United Arab Emirates include the introduction of longer-term visas as one way of attracting and retaining talent, as well as encouraging more firms to open shops there.