Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Casino lovers in the Middle East will be getting some new options soon. This comes as the Wynn Al Marjan is well underway with construction and as per sources close to the situation, will be opening as early as Q1 2027.
Once complete, it is expected to be one of the top hubs for gambling in the region, as well as a prominent resort. All this was revealed via the latest periodic update from the Wynn Al Marjan’s developers which came on November 21, 2024.
One thing to keep in mind about this project is that it is a very expensive one. When it was first announced in 2022, the Wynn Al Marjan was projected to cost $3.90 billion but now, this budget has ballooned to $5.10 billion. The good news, however, is that development is progressing quite fast. The latest report estimates that about 55% of the structural concrete is complete. This refers to the 26th floor of the main resort tower; yet, the walls have been finished to the 29th floor.
If you thought that was impressive, the team is currently working at the rate of 1 floor per week and in the last 100 days alone, 44 metres have been added to the structure. By January, the structure would have reached the topping-off point, which is a major milestone for any construction project.
To its credit, the Wynn Design and Development (WDD) have put its extensive resources to good use, with 90 architects and designers working on the project, along with 9,100 construction team members.
The project will also be tapping into a global market that has only been expanding these last few years. Gambling has existed for centuries, but the rise of the Internet has only created more passion around the activity, as well as allowing collaboration with other technologies. Crypto, for example, is more widely used in gambling, and this is thanks to the benefits it provides users, such as privacy and more profit. Now, more people are turning to online casinos to bet with digital assets. As crypto and iGaming analyst Kane Pepi writes, many are seeking out the best sites for crypto sports betting to have their needs met. And a gambling audience that is happy to play online with crypto will certainly be willing to play in a land-based casino such as the Wynn Al Marjan if they are in the UAE.
When the Wynn Al Marjan is finally unveiled, it will be not just a major casino but a resort as well. It will boast 1,542 rooms and suites, 22 lounges, bars, and restaurants, pools, a shopping centre, an events centre, and a theatre. It will also be very strategically located, being only 50 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport.
“Wynn Al Marjan Island will create a new category of luxury in the region through its unique collection of experiences,” the official report says.
However, even as this luxury project goes underway, its developers will have to navigate the tricky waters of the gambling scene in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates.
Running a gambling business in any part of the world inevitably means dealing with complex laws and systems. But this is especially true for operators in the Middle East. Many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and even the United Arab Emirates have strict gambling laws, along with harsh punishments for breaking them. So how are the Wynn Al Marjan team dealing with this?
It is worth noting that construction started on the casino/resort before it officially secured a gambling license. The Wynn was first announced in 2022 but it was only in October 2024 that it was licensed by The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
This means that regulatory-wise, the project has no issues. The same cannot be said of some unnamed projects that are expected to also begin development soon. Getting a gambling license is no small matter in the UAE, and the Regulatory Authority has said that it is focused on projects that have already gotten a license.
The Wynn Al Marjan is on track to make a splash in the UAE market. Not only will it be a top casino once it launches, but also a high-demand resort. However, its development has shown the complexities of gambling-related regulation in the Middle East. With such a high-profile project only getting a license years after it was announced, it is clear that casino operators face certain obstacles when trying to set up shop in the region.
Hopefully, once the Wynn is opened, it will be a success for its developers and the industry as a whole.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
