Islamabad, Oct 5: UAE gets its first gambling license
Wynn Resorts, a major hotel and casino operator, announced on Friday that it had been awarded the first-ever commercial gaming operator’s license in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the country’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.
The Las Vegas-based company is developing a luxury resort at Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, a joint venture involving affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan, and RAK Hospitality Holding. The project is currently under construction.
While officials from Ras Al Khaimah’s government communications office, RAKTDA, and RAK Hospitality Holding have not yet commented, this development marks a significant shift in the UAE.
Last month, the country established a federal body to regulate gambling, hiring veterans from the US gaming industry to lead it.
This ends long-standing speculation about whether the UAE would permit gambling, which remains illegal across much of the conservative Gulf region.
The decision to allow gambling comes amidst growing economic competition in the Gulf, particularly with Saudi Arabia. The UAE recently introduced liberal legal reforms to maintain its position as the region’s leading hub for trade, tourism, and finance.
