It may have been inevitable that the phrase “UAE gaming license” would appear in a to-do list for the United Arab Emirates. But if you thought that this license was for a complex in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, think again.
For the first time in the Gulf region, plans for a casino have received the go-ahead. Earlier this month, Paradise, Nevada-based Wynn Resorts obtained a UAE gaming license in order to set up shop in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates, located in the northeastern part of the country.
Although Ras Al Khaimah is much less-visited than Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a spate of recent residential and commercial developments might tempt low-cost carriers to initiate flights to its airport.
To wit, in addition to opening up the country’s first casino, Wynn Resorts will also be offering 1500 rooms and suites, dining, and shopping options in its Wynn Al Marjan Island property, slated to open in 2027.
I wonder if this UAE gaming license comes attached with curious stipulations, say, in terms of sustainability, or paving the way for local entrepreneurs to have first dibs on storefronts.
In any event, might we see a Red Sea project in Saudi Arabia follow suit with its own casino hub?
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