Wynn Al Marjan Island: timeline of UAE’s first integrated resort with casino
From regulatory milestones to construction progress and 2027 projections, Wynn Al Marjan Island is shaping up to be a landmark project for Ras Al Khaimah and the broader Middle East gaming landscape.
Wynn Al Marjan Island is poised to redefine hospitality and gaming in the Middle East as the United Arab Emirates prepares to welcome its first integrated resort featuring a casino. Backed by Wynn Resorts in partnership with Marjan LLC and RAK Hospitality Holding, the US$5.1bn development is advancing steadily towards its targeted 2027 opening.
The emirate’s establishment of a regulatory framework for gaming, through the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), paved the way for the development of the country’s first legal casino environment, with Wynn Al Marjan Island emerging as its flagship project.
The resort, conceptualised by Wynn Design & Development, is being built on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, a man-made archipelago spanning more than 60 hectares along the Arabian Gulf. The location offers a beachfront setting with white sand beaches, panoramic sea views and a full-service marina, positioning the development as a high-end tourism destination.
According to official project data, Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,530 rooms and suites, including a premium “Enclave” experience, alongside 22 restaurants and lounges, a theatre, a five-star spa, a shopping promenade, and a large-scale events and celebrations centre. The resort will also include a gaming area, marking a milestone for the UAE’s entry into regulated commercial gaming.
Construction milestones and current progress
Between 2023 and 2024, construction entered its initial phase, with works focused on site preparation, foundation development and the beginning of vertical construction, laying the groundwork for the resort’s large-scale footprint.
The project has progressed rapidly from early groundwork to vertical construction. According to its latest update, structural concrete works for the resort’s tower have been completed through to the 71st-floor roof, following the building’s topping out in December 2025.
The resort’s signature tower has reached a height of 299 metres, with 100 per cent of structural concrete completed through to the 71st floor roof. Installation of the tower’s structural steel roof crown has commenced, and the tower façade installation continues to advance, with 21,852 of 26,471 façade panels installed, representing 83 per cent completion to date. Elevator and escalator installations are progressing across the property, and interior fit-out continues.
Rising 352 metres above sea level, the tower is set to become a defining feature of Ras Al Khaimah’s skyline. Construction continues across the broader resort footprint, including amenities, infrastructure and external developments.
Structural works have now been completed for all 1,530 guest accommodations, including rooms, suites, townhouses, and Marina Estates, representing 100 per cent structural completion of the total inventory. Interior fit-out is underway across all accommodations, with mechanical, electrical, and finishing works progressing in sequence. Across the resort’s low-rise structures, combined concrete and structural steel works are 99 per cent complete, representing 482,127 cubic metres of concrete and 15,162 tonnes of structural steel. During the past month, air-conditioning systems serving the podium low-zone offices were commissioned, enabling fine-finish installation works to proceed on schedule.
Work on the project experienced a temporary slowdown amid regional geopolitical tensions, but construction has since resumed, with progress updates confirming that development remains on track for its 2027 opening.
Once completed, Wynn Al Marjan Island will deliver a full-scale integrated resort experience combining hospitality, entertainment and gaming. Amenities will include a 420-metre private beach, multiple swimming pools, a beach club, and a deepwater marina capable of accommodating luxury yachts. The Coral Court events centre and a 900-capacity theatre are expected to position the resort as a key hub for conferences, events and live entertainment in the region.
Wynn Al Marjan Island is accelerating its pre-opening preparations with a broad recruitment push that covers gaming and casino operations, culinary and kitchen, and entertainment and guest experience. Positions in gaming and casino operations include director of gaming marketing performance, card room managers, and table games operations supervisors. The culinary and hospitality departments are looking to fill executive sous chef roles for Lebanese, Greek, Italian, and Indo-Persian restaurants, as well as a variety of general manager positions for diverse dining venues, ranging from a beach club to a steakhouse by Alain Ducasse. The entertainment and technical sectors are recruiting for backstage and management roles, including heads of automation, lighting, and wardrobe for resident theatrical productions and live performance programming planned for the venue.
Infrastructure and ecosystem development
Wynn also highlighted progress on the Wynn Bridge, a 548-metre-long infrastructure project designed to connect the resort to surrounding beach districts and the UAE road network. The bridge, which will link Wynn Al Marjan Island via Wynn Boulevard to the E311 and E611 highways, is now over 48 per cent complete and remains on track for completion in late 2026.
Recent milestones include the announcement of Oasis: A Wynn Community, a purpose-built residential development located adjacent to Marjan Island and Wynn Boulevard. Scheduled to open in Summer 2026, and located just a 15-minute drive away from Wynn Al Marjan Island, the 26-acre community will accommodate more than 7,000 colleagues (80 per cent of the total colleagues) across 15 vertical residential communities, with a breadth of amenities rarely found in employer-provided housing, making Wynn Oasis among the most comprehensive colleague-living developments in the global hospitality sector.
Projections and regional impact
With its 2027 debut, Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming Ras Al Khaimah into a global tourism and entertainment destination. Located less than 50 miles from Dubai International Airport, the resort is strategically positioned to attract both international visitors and regional demand.
The company said the casino could generate a minimum of US$1.33bn in gross gaming revenue (GGR) annually. The gaming space will cover 225,000 square feet (20,903 square metres), 4 per cent of the gross floor area.
