US-based gaming and entertainment brand Wynn Resorts is in the process of constructing its largest casino resort on the planet in the United Arab Emirates. The Wynn Marjan project is set to be considerably bigger than its Wynn Las Vegas resort on the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard.
The deal, which was confirmed in winter 2022 by Wynn Resorts’ CEO, Craig Billings, will be situated on a picture-perfect island just a few hundred meters off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah. The Wynn Marjan build is the first of its kind in the Gulf Arab, with the region in the process of formalizing gambling legislation for casino games, aligned with the legislation used in Singapore and the United States.
Wynn Marjan is set to dwarf Wynn Las Vegas
Billings revealed to Wynn investors in his Q3 2022 earnings call that the project was set to be “a little bigger than Wynn Las Vegas”, which has a “very high return opportunity” for the business. He wasn’t kidding. The casino floor is expected to total 18,500 square meters, positioning it as one of the top-ten casinos on the planet by size. It’s almost double the scale of the casino within Wynn Las Vegas, the world’s premier gambling destination for decades.
Now, the company has revealed its contracted construction partner to oversee the project, which plans to open in 2026. The 1,000-room integrated resort and casino will be built by ALEC Engineering and Contracting LLC and Bauer International FZE, firms that have a proven track record in the construction of high-profile buildings across a string of sectors.
ALEC is part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) organization, so its appointment makes sense given the economic importance of the project to Ras Al Khaimah, particularly from a tourism perspective. The theory is that Wynn Marjan will become a destination resort for Europeans and those across Asia. Billings said that, once open, Wynn Marjan brand will be accessible to 95% of the global population “within an eight-hour flight”.
The Wynn brand, led by Steve Wynn, was founded in 2002. In the last two decades, it has overseen the development of six resort properties, including three in Macau, the so-called “Vegas of Asia”. It’s also made a move into traditional sports betting, as well as developing its own iGaming platform, enabling players to engage with the Wynn brand both online and within land-based resorts. At the time of writing, the WynnBET Casino promo code is available in two states via the regulated markets of New Jersey and Michigan.
Bauer International FZE has also been enlisted alongside ALEC to oversee the essential piling and enabling works that will cement this resort as a destination for generations to come. Arabian Business recently revealed that Wynn Resorts had registered formal trademarks of “Arabian Strip” and “Marjan Strip”, which are both likely to be used in Wynn’s marketing material in the coming years.
A big deal for the future of tourism in Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is an intriguing choice of location for Wynn’s Marjan resort. It’s the smallest and least marketed of the seven emirates that comprise the UAE. Caesars Entertainment opted to construct a Caesars Palace resort in the central business district of Dubai, although this is a strictly non-casino venue. Dubai was also the selected location for MGM Resorts International’s own branded resort, which is currently under construction.
It’s true to say that Ras Al Khaimah is a region that’s adopted tougher Islamic rules than other areas of the Middle East. However, with Saudi Arabia investing significant sums in rebuilding its image and attempting to become a destination for sports and entertainment lovers, the Gulf may see projects like the Wynn Marjan as a chance to retaining their tourist crown.
The project’s gatekeepers certainly seem to be hellbent on using best-in-class partners to oversee the biggest resort of its kind within UAE’s burgeoning hospitality scene.
