Wynn Resorts in UAE: Who will be among the first visitors?
As mentioned earlier, Wynn Al Marjan Resort would be the first integrated gaming resort located in Ras Al Khaimah and is set to open in 2027. It is primarily relying on local residents, international visitors, and high-end customers. These insights were shared by a senior official.
The other primary visitors targeted include international tourists flying in directly, UAE residents from Dubai and other parts of the Emirates driving in for weekend getaway “staycations”, and Dubai residents that prefer road trips for gaming. This statement was shared by Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, in a recent earnings call.
Lastly, he pointed out that luxury travelers make up the remaining “bucket” of customers, which constitutes a large portion of their clientele in Las Vegas and seeks luxury more than anything.
“He noted that all three customer segments are equally important not only from an EBITDA perspective, but also to help set the tone and define the aesthetics and experience of the resort.”
Wynn Al Marjan has become the first property in the country to receive a license from GCGRA for an integrated gaming resort. Other players wishing to venture into the region’s $3-5 billion market have still not been catered to.
The construction on the 70-story tower is full throttle at a floor per week, reaching just shy of 50 floors. Costing $3.9 billion (Dh14.3 billion), the project is expected to create 7,500 jobs across hospitality, gaming, wellness, F&B, and more upon completion in early 2027.
In the Q1 of 2025, the company has also contributed $51.2 million as cash into the 40% owned JV. This raises their cash contributions for the project to $682.9 million.
Craig Billings spoke about cost overrun inflation delaying construction on the project and ruled it out entirely. “We have a substantial portion of the UAE already bought out. So we have strong budget certainty in the UAE,” he mentioned during the conference call.
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