CEO of Wynn Resorts, Craig Billings, has revealed the plans for the resort set to open on the man-made island of Al Marjan in Ras Al Khaimah. The project as a whole will cost an expected $2bn and should open in 2026.
The UAE is a limited supply market, so Wynn will hold the only gaming license in the region. This will give the company exclusive access to the high volume of tourists and visitors to the region.
The new location is expected to further increase Wynn's global presence and accessibility. The UAE project is anticipated to grow the Wynn Resorts brand worldwide.
Billings said: "There has been tremendous modernization and progression in the UAE. The Dubai airport sees more than 80 million passengers a year. There's an amazing amount of inbound visitation from Europe, the Middle East, India and other surrounding countries."
He added: "We believe there will be a robust cash-based business like we have here. We see it as a real extension of our brand." Billings was previously the Wynn Interactive CEO before being named Wynn Resorts CEO in November of 2021.
The UAE project was first announced in January of 2022 and will include a 1,000-plus-room hotel, high-end shopping mall, state-of-the-art meeting, and convention facility, a spa, several restaurants and lounges and entertainment.
Billings noted in an interview to the Nevada Independent: "We have moved quickly to our design on our project in the UAE, and I grow more excited about the opportunity with each iteration of that design. I’m confident we’re going to deliver something special to a market that is accustomed to paying a premium for luxury experiences."
He also noted the resort will have similar features to Wynn Las Vegas, stating: "The island, which is really a blank canvas for us, presents amazing opportunities to do what we do best, from offshore large-scale water and light spectacles akin to the Lake of Dreams (at Wynn Las Vegas) to a room product that takes advantage of the unique aspects of the beach-side setting."
Wynn’s was the first announcement of legalized gambling in any of the seven Emirates.
