Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) said on Wednesday that “culture and societal norms” will be taken into considered as casino operator Wynn plans a massive new resort with gaming facilities.
Wynn Resorts is scheduled to open the luxury resort on Al Marjan Island in 2026 which will feature a “gaming area”, potentially paving the way for gambling to be allowed in the emirate.
Dubai, traditionally the most liberal emirate in the UAE, in April denied rumours it was granting gambling licences. Casino and hotel operator Caesars in 2018 opened a resort on Dubai’s Bluewaters Island – its first non-gambling project.
A spokesperson for RAKTDA told Arabian Business: “The gaming facility is currently in the design phase and will be purposely built on the guidelines of The Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation, taking into consideration culture and societal norms.
“It will be a modern facility with games designed specifically based on the preferences of the visitors.”
The tourism project was unveiled on the same day that RAKTDA announced the creation of a new Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation to regulate “integrated resorts”.
RAKTDA added: “The newly formed division within Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is focused on the regulation of integrated resorts… It will address the entire gaming enterprise within integrated resorts, requiring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations by operators, suppliers and employees.”
The authority did not specify if the gaming area included gambling but the launch of the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation is a sign that entertainment rules might be loosened.
Marjan, RAK Hospitality Holding and US-listed Wynn Resorts said the new resort is the first beach resort being developed by Wynn Resorts globally.
The current scope includes a 1,000+ room hotel, high-end shopping mall, a meeting and convention facility, an exclusive spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices and a gaming area.
An official spokesperson from Marjan told Arabian Business: “Gaming is only one of the many elements of the integrated resort… Relative to the entire project, the gaming area is only a small percentage of the total area of the integrated resort.
“The gaming facility will operate in accordance with the regulatory framework of the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation within the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.”
The integrated resort will be developed with “significant” foreign direct investment by Wynn Resorts and will be developed to the highest standards of sustainability best practices.
Abdulla Al Abdooli, CEO of Marjan, said the new integrated resort highlights the fast-growing recognition of Ras Al Khaimah as a leading investment destination for high-quality hospitality projects.
Craig Billings, newly appointed CEO of Wynn Resorts, added: “The region offers tremendous potential for the hospitality and tourism industry, and we are excited about the prospect of developing an integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah.”
The resort is in the initial stages of design and development and will be applying for an integrated resort licence from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
Comprising four islands, Al Marjan Island boasts over 7.8km of beaches and 23km of waterfront in addition to world-class hotels and residential developments.
It spans an area of 2.7 million sq m of reclaimed land extending into the Arabian Gulf.
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