Ras al-Khaimah signerer en kontrakt med Wynn Resorts, verdens største kasinoselskap

Casino giant Wynn Resorts inks a multimilliardavtale with the emirate that will see the construction of a luksus hotel consisting of a ‘gaming’ area.

Hotel and casino giant operator Wynn Resorts recently issued a statement saying that it will construct a luxury resort in Ras al-Khaimah in the UAE, consisting of a gaming area.

Den Nevada-baserte kasinogiganten kunngjorde en avtale på flere milliarder dollar på tirsdag med emiratet. I avtalen vil kasinoet bygge et 1,000-roms luksushotell som vil bestå av 10 restauranter og salonger, et kongressanlegg, et spa, shoppingsteder og selvfølgelig et spillområde.

Wynn var ikke klar på om spillingen ville inkludere gambling.

The news coincided with a statement issued by the Ras al-Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) that announced the creation of a completely new section known as the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation, a clear indication that entertainment regulations could be relaxed.

According to the statement, the division will be responsible for governing “integrated resorts,” which encompass hotel operations, spas, restaurants, convention centers, retail stores, and “gaming.” Integrated resorts are hotels that include casinos and several other entertainment options. The first task for the fresh agency, according to RAKTDA, will be a regulatory framework aimed at ensuring “the responsible practice of recreational gaming at all levels.”

The government communications office based in Ras al-Khaimah, RAK Hospitality Holding, RAKTDAog Wynn Resorts have all declined to comment as to whether matters to do with gambling will be allowed in the emirate. But on the other hand, diplomats say that the UAE may be compelled to allow it as part of broader legislative reforms that are aimed at maintaining its competitiveness as both a business and tourist hub, especially in the face of increasing regional competition.

It was in April when Dubai, the UAE’s typically most liberal emirate, quashed rumors that it was awarding casinos with licenses. Caesars Entertainment opened its first non-gaming project in 2018, a resort located on Dubai’s Bluewaters Island. The Wynn Resort is expected to open later in 2026, according to Ras al-Khaimah authorities and Wynn. It will be constructed on Al Marjan, a man-made island off the coast of Ras al-Khaimah.

The above isn’t all. Three other luxurious Las Vegas bran hotels from casino operator MGM Resorts are currently being developed on another man-made land in Dubai that’s dubbed The Island. They are all set to open in 2022.

While the consumption of alcohol is permitted in the United Arab Emirates, all forms of gambling, which is prohibited in Islam and in the entire 6 GCC republics, hos no place there. The UAE announced one of the most comprehensive law reforms in the Gulf state’s history last year. In the reform, premarital sexual encounters along with alcohol consumption were decriminalized.

Andre nyere utviklinger i De forente arabiske emirater inkluderer innføringen av lengre visum som en måte å tiltrekke og beholde talenter på, samt å oppmuntre flere firmaer til å åpne butikker der.