Inside Wynn Resorts’ plans for the UAE’s first legal casino destination

Regulators in the UAE approved the country’s first lottery licence and unveiled comprehensive casino and gambling regulations, on Sunday.

This landmark decision positions the UAE to become the first Gulf state to legalise gaming, marking a significant shift in the region’s economic and entertainment landscape.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has also launched its official website, detailing the future of gaming in the UAE, including casino licences, slot machines, and poker tables.

Wynn Resorts, the US-based hotel operator renowned for its luxury casino hotels, is at the forefront of this transformation.

The company is developing Wynn Al Marjan Island, its first beachfront resort in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), spanning a 62-hectare island in the Arabian Gulf.

This project, in partnership with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, is set to be the first integrated gaming resort in the MENA region. Wynn Resorts, known for its iconic destinations like Wynn Las Vegas and Macau, is bringing its luxury brand to the Middle East, with its upcoming hotel in RAK.

Gulf Business speaks to Michael Weaver, chief communications and brand officer at Wynn Resorts, about the upcoming flagship property, the UAE’s gaming legislation, and how technology and evolving guest preferences are redefining luxury in the hospitality industry.

Q: How will you position the Wynn brand in the Middle East, given its recognition in the West and East?

We believe the Wynn brand’s appeal will extend to the MENA region. We will offer dining and other experiences that cater to local tastes while maintaining the high standards for which we are known. Some dining experiences will be consistent with our other locations, while others will be unique to this region. 

We plan to announce these experiences later this year and next year, and we are excited about the unique offerings we will provide.

Q: How are you viewing the UAE market?

The UAE boasts a highly developed hospitality sector, featuring some of the finest hotels in the world, which set a global standard for service. This is particularly appealing to us at Wynn Resorts because our approach involves being deeply engaged in our projects from the ground up.

We have an internal team for design and development, including architects and designers, making us the only large-scale hotel company with an internal architectural group. This group designs unique and remarkable buildings, creating a stage where our employees deliver the guest experience.

We believe that only people can make people happy. Our design team creates magnificent restaurants and public spaces, but the real guest experience happens one-on-one between an employee and a guest. It’s not the hand-woven carpets, the beautiful marble, or the crystal chandeliers—it’s our employees who are our greatest asset. Being in a region with an already high level of hospitality service is highly advantageous to us, as the culture of creating great guest experiences is already established.

We plan to capitalise on this existing ecosystem and culture, training our teams to create what we hope will be one of our flagship properties. Ras Al Khaimah, in particular, is interesting because it combines four unique elements: mountains, beaches on the Arabian Sea, a rich historic legacy, and beautiful hotels.

We are excited to create a gaming resort that meets international standards in Ras Al Khaimah, becoming a part of this unique hospitality and tourism ecosystem. This emirate’s distinctiveness makes it incredibly appealing to us.

Q: Tell us about the preparations that are ongoing for the launch of Wynn Al Marjan Island resort.

We’ve been working on this project for several years. We aim to open everything simultaneously in 2027, which is our stated opening target. While some minor elements, like restaurants or nightlife experiences, might open slightly later, our intention is a full launch.

Our sophisticated guest service systems and training programmes, which we have developed for our other resorts, will be implemented here as well. Identifying and training the right employees is crucial, and we plan to recruit talent from Dubai and other regions who are eager to be part of something unique and new.

Ras Al Khaimah is developing rapidly, with new hotels and a growing tourism infrastructure. By the time we open in 2027, the area will be even more developed. We aim to contribute to Ras Al Khaimah’s aspiration to become a premier tourist destination.

Q: The UAE recently announced its gaming policies. What is your view on the nascent framework?

The Ras Al Khaimah government and the UAE authorities have engaged a team of experienced regulators to develop gaming guidelines. These regulations will meet international standards, and we will comply fully.

We are confident in their expertise and look forward to following the established guidelines.

Read: UAE rolls the dice with first lottery licence, unveils new gaming rules

Q: This region and surrounding countries, like South Asia, have a young, digitally savvy population. Is technology a competitor for you, or are you integrating it into your gaming system?

The integration of such technology into gaming systems will be determined by the regulator, who will set the parameters. Regarding the guest experience, both in the resort and when making bookings, there are various ways to define luxury, and we are firmly in the luxury business. Our focus is on creating luxury gaming resorts.

Luxury can be defined in many ways, and one key aspect is convenience. We aim to allow customers to interact with us in their preferred way. Some customers prefer not to use their phones for reservations or check-in; they want personal interaction. Conversely, younger customers often prefer a seamless, digital experience, handling everything on their phones with minimal human interaction.

For these customers, a frictionless experience is a form of luxury. Thus, we develop technology systems that enable guests to interact with us in the most convenient way for them. Luxury is about choice; the more options available, the more personalised and luxurious the experience feels.

This is our approach in the business: providing choices that make the guest experience as luxurious and personalised as possible.

Q: How will this property align with the UAE’s commitment to being net-zero by 2050?

Building this property with net zero goals in mind is a significant advantage. For instance, our resort in Las Vegas, located in the Mojave Desert, achieves 70% of its net peak energy needs from solar power. For this new property, we can incorporate sustainable technologies from the start.

This commitment to sustainability is integral to our operations. We publish an ESG report, which details our sustainability efforts at other resorts, demonstrating our serious commitment to these goals.

Read: New photos of UAE’s gaming destination: Wynn Al Marjan Island