UAE Grants First Gambling Operator License in the Gulf Region
Wynn Resorts, the operator of hotels and casinos, announced that it has obtained the first license for a gambling and gaming operator in the UAE from the General Authority for Regulating Commercial Gaming in the country.
The Las Vegas-based casino company stated that it is developing a luxury resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah with the aim of officially establishing gambling in the UAE.
The company stated that the ongoing project is a joint venture between Wynn Resorts’ subsidiaries, Marjan, and Rak Hospitality Holding
Last month, the UAE established a federal authority to regulate gambling and appointed veterans from the U.S. industry to lead it, putting an end to years of speculation about whether the country would permit gambling, a practice that has been illegal in the conservative Gulf region.
These actions to permit gambling arise in the context of growing economic competition in the Gulf, especially with Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the UAE introduced a series of liberal legal amendments in its efforts to maintain its status as a hub for trade, tourism, and finance in the region.
At the end of July, Bloomberg reported that the UAE government made its first official move toward legalizing gambling by issuing a lottery license, after previously approving the establishment of the first casinos in the Gulf region.
The agency reports that the first lottery license has been issued in the UAE, suggesting the possibility of legalizing casinos and other forms of gambling.
The General Authority for Regulating Commercial Gaming announced that ‘The Game LLC’ will oversee the ‘Emirati Lottery.’ Although a start date or specific format for the lottery has not been announced, this represents a significant advancement toward creating a regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE.
Gambling is forbidden in Islam, and legalizing it marks a major change in the UAE, where Sharia law serves as the legal basis. A federal authority was created to oversee gaming after the announcement by the American company ‘Wynn Resorts’ regarding the construction of a $3.9 billion gaming resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
The agency reports that legalizing gambling could draw more tourists and investments from China, potentially generating revenue equal to 1.3% of the UAE’s GDP, around $6.6 billion, which would exceed Singapore’s earnings.
Dubai is facing increasing competition from neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, prompting it to implement a series of reforms to maintain its status as the leading tourism and business destination in the region. These reforms include offering long-term visas and allowing unmarried couples to live together
Gaming companies have the opportunity to apply for operations across all seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah being the frontrunners to launch casinos ahead of Dubai, which has paused its immediate plans to legalize gambling.
Key players in the gambling industry are increasingly arriving in the UAE, as the country approaches the official legalization of gambling, a first for the Gulf region.
In September, the UAE announced the establishment of the ‘General Authority for Regulating Commercial Gaming,’ which will function as a federal body to provide a regulatory framework for commercial gaming and lotteries, according to Abu Dhabi’s official media.
Abu Dhabi has appointed Kevin Mullay as the CEO of the authority, highlighting his status as “a global expert with more than 30 years of extensive experience in the international regulation of commercial gaming.”
Mullay previously served as the executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, which oversaw riverboat casinos in the U.S. state.
The Associated Press considered Abu Dhabi’s establishment of this authority as “a sign that the UAE is nearing the legalization of gambling, with prominent figures from the gambling industry flocking to the Gulf state.”
The agency reports that the authority is managed by a team of top global experts in the field, all of whom have considerable experience in organizing and overseeing effective, safe, and responsible gaming practices.
The new authority will “create a responsible gaming environment that ensures all participants adhere to strict guidelines and comply with the highest global standards in this field.”
The authority coordinates regulatory activities and manages licensing across the UAE, in addition to “facilitating the responsible launch of the economic potential of commercial gaming.
Details are gradually emerging about a massive project that the UAE authorities are keeping from the media, involving the establishment of the country’s first gambling resort, with costs reaching up to $3.9 billion.
Wynn Resorts, which will manage the gambling resort in the UAE, revealed that the project is set to open within four years in Ras Al Khaimah and will feature exceptional entertainment and gaming options.
Wynn Resorts commenced construction and foundational work earlier this year on Wynn Marjan Island, which features 7.8 kilometers of coastline and a 23-kilometer waterfront. This resort will mark the company’s inaugural project in the Middle East and North Africa
Wynn Resorts operates casinos in Las Vegas and Boston (USA) as well as in Macau, a Chinese territory near Hong Kong.
The Gulf states ban gambling activities; however, the Tourism Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah announced last year the establishment of a new authority to regulate “integrated resorts,” including gaming facilities.
The company stated that the resort, which features 1,500 rooms, 24 dining areas, lounges, spa facilities, upscale shopping, and nighttime laser and light shows, is set to open in early 2027, following a revision of the previous schedule which was set for 2026.
The company added that the iconic image of the Wynn Marjan Island resort will transform the face of the emirate and accelerate its development as a major global tourist destination, providing significant value to its economy through tourism and job creation. This project will pave the way for rapid growth in related business sectors.
Last year, Reuters revealed that the UAE would allow specific types of gambling, with each emirate having the autonomy to decide and regulate accordingly, much like Sharjah’s prohibition on alcohol sales compared to other emirates.
A number of global resorts and casino operators are exploring the possibility of opening branches in the UAE, especially since it is becoming a significant attraction for tourists. Many managers of international casinos are now looking toward a previously unconsidered opportunity: gambling in the country.
Earlier this year, Ras Al Khaimah, one of the smallest and least known of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, announced its intention to regulate gambling at some resorts.
On that same day, Wynn Resorts, the Las Vegas-based gambling powerhouse, revealed plans to develop a licensed casino resort on an artificial island.
These statements could mark a turning point for the Gulf region, which has traditionally enforced Islamic law more strictly than other parts of the Middle East, where gambling was previously unthinkable. However, the region is now looking toward venues like the Beirut Casino Club and open gambling halls in luxury hotels in Egypt.
If Ras Al Khaimah paves the way and other emirates follow suit, it could benefit from global casinos and renowned hotels that have opened branches in the UAE, while many are looking towards Dubai, the largest and most famous tourist destination, where gambling remains prohibited.
Officials from Caesars Palace, which opened in Dubai in 2018 and is the only resort in the Caesars American chain without a casino, stated that they will consider the possibility of opening a gambling club in Dubai.
In this context, Anthony Costa, the regional president of Caesars Palace Resorts, said, “The acceptance of the idea of potential gaming in the UAE, in any form, opens the door for resorts like Caesars and MGM to examine the matter closely… I see it as an amazing development.”
About ten kilometers away from the Caesars resort in Dubai, construction has begun on an artificial island for a luxury resort from the MGM Resorts International chain based in Las Vegas.
In response to a question about whether they would consider opening a casino at the resort, MGM stated, “Gambling was not part of the planning, and there have been no updates to our plans.”
Dubai authorities, known to be the most liberal emirate, have previously denied circulating rumors on social media and among business circles that several hotels had received licenses to open casinos.
The UAE, where expatriates make up 90% of the population, has undertaken a series of liberal moves as it faces increasing regional competition for talent and tourism, particularly from neighboring Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
In addition to lifting the ban on unmarried couples living together, easing restrictions on alcohol, and offering long-term residency options, the UAE also changed its weekend last year to be from Saturday to Sunday.
This move aligned the UAE with Western countries and markets, making it the only Gulf state that does not restrict weekends to Friday, the Muslim day of prayer.
