Wynn Resorts has called dibs on the rights to build the United Arab Emirates’ first integrated resort, which is in all likelihood going to feature a casino floor.
While the UAE has been reluctant to issue a second license for an integrated resort, with MGM Resorts International notably on the sidelines, having submitted its own bid in 2024, Wynn Resorts could be moving forward with plans for a second such property.
Wynn Resorts eyeing possible second IR in UAE
Wynn Resorts and the United Arab Emirates may already have a partnership in place to launch a second resort, on top of the already incoming Ras Al Khaimah, which is due to arrive in early 2027. The second property, though, is only now becoming known to the public, based on recent reporting.
The Al Marjan Island, which is due to host the first property, will also feature more resorts, the agreement clarifies, with a second integrated resort sprawling on 593,870 square feet. The partnership also specifies that should a casino be built on the second IR, then Wynn or an affiliate would retain the sole control of its operations.
The news was originally reported by the Arabian Gulf Business Insight (AGBI), which got the first scoop. While a second integrated resort is not that surprising, nothing suggested that Wynn Resorts would act so quickly.
The company has already said that it could be expanding its development by adding more properties, but nothing pointed to a second property, and an integrated resort at that, arriving so quickly after the first.
However, Wynn’s Chief Communications Officer, Michael Weaver, has responded to the request for comments from AGBI and clarified that while there were plans, there was nothing definitive until such a time as the first IR has been completed.
"There is a significant opportunity in Ras Al Khaimah to power the company’s growth in that region, and the non-compete will not impede the company’s growth globally," Weaver told the publication.
