First commercial gaming licence to Wynn Resorts granted by UAE

Hotel and casino operator Wynn Resorts has been awarded the UAE’s first commercial gaming operator's licence. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) confirmed the development to Khaleej Times on Saturday.

The Las Vegas-based casino firm is building Wynn Al Marjan Island as the first integrated gaming resort in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Set to open to the public in early 2027, the multi-billion dollar project is being built on an island of almost 62 hectares extending into the Arabian Gulf.

The GCGRA did not offer any other details about the licence that was awarded to the company.

In a statement, Wynn Resorts said the “commercial gaming facility operator licence” has been issued to the “entity developing the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah”. This ‘entity’ is a joint venture between affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding.

The GCGRA defines ‘commercial gaming' as any game of chance, or combination of chance and skill, “where an amount of money, in cash or cash equivalents, is wagered – i.e. placed as a bet – for the purpose of winning a sum of money or other valuable items”. Among the gaming operators specified by the GCGRA are land-based gaming facilities.

The licence award follows a “diligent and extensive review” by the GCGRA. “Wynn Resorts thanks the GCGRA for the confidence and trust the licence grant signifies and is proud to be the recipient of the first commercial gaming facility license in the UAE. We are underway with the construction of our resort in Ras Al Khaimah and look forward to being a key partner in the development of its tourism economy.”

This is the second licence to be issued by the GCGRA, an independent executive entity within the UAE federal government that regulates, licenses, and supervises all commercial gaming activities and facilities in the UAE. In July, the gaming authority awarded the licence to operate the first authorised lottery in the country to Abu Dhabi-based The Game LLC.

Though highly anticipated for its gaming features, Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature non-gaming amenities as well. It will house 1,542 rooms and suites, including 22 private villa estates. It will be the first Wynn Resort — out of its six properties in Las Vegas, Macau, and Boston Harbor — to come up on a beach.

The project, under construction, is a joint venture between affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, Wynn said. Construction on the project began in early 2023. A 300-metre-tall resort tower is expected to be topped off in the fourth quarter of 2025.