Casino Opening in Dubai – When Will the New UAE Casino Open?
New casino opening in Dubai. The subject has attracted growing international attention as the UAE develops a regulated commercial gaming market and its first major integrated casino resort moves closer to completion. For people searching for a Casino opening in Dubai, however, there is one important geographical detail: the new casino resort is not being built in Dubai itself. It is being developed on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
The project is Wynn Al Marjan Island, an integrated resort being developed by Wynn Resorts in partnership with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. For Dubai visitors, the location remains highly relevant because Al Marjan Island is approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
Most importantly, the opening date has now become much more specific: Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to open in September 2027.
Casino Opening in Dubai
Searches for a Casino opening in Dubai have existed for years, but the story has changed considerably since the first Wynn project announcement in 2022.
What began as plans for a new integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah is now a major development under construction with a UAE land-based gaming licence and an announced opening target of September 2027.
Dubai itself does not currently have a conventional licensed land-based casino. The resort attracting attention from people searching for a new Dubai casino is located in the neighbouring emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
That distinction is important, but so is proximity. For international travellers arriving through Dubai, the new resort will potentially be close enough to combine Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah within the same UAE trip.
When Will the New Casino Open?
Wynn Resorts announced in its second-quarter 2026 results that Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to open its doors in September 2027.
This is considerably more specific than the earlier opening estimates surrounding the project. Initial plans evolved as design, construction, financing and the UAE’s commercial gaming framework developed.
For visitors searching for a Casino opening in Dubai in 2027, September 2027 is therefore the key date to watch – but it refers to Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, not to a casino physically located within Dubai.
Casino Opening Timeline: From 2022 to 2027
The development of Wynn Al Marjan Island is particularly interesting because the project has evolved from an early resort announcement into a licensed integrated gaming development with a defined opening timetable.
2022 – The Project Is Announced
In January 2022, Wynn Resorts and its local partners announced plans for an integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
At that stage, many details were still developing. The announcement nevertheless attracted considerable international attention because of what a Wynn resort could eventually mean for tourism and casino gaming in the UAE.
2023 – Wynn Al Marjan Island Takes Shape
As the project developed, Wynn Al Marjan Island became much more clearly defined as a major luxury integrated resort rather than simply another hotel development.
Plans increasingly combined accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, beach leisure, shopping and gaming within a single destination.
2024 – Gaming Becomes an Official Part of the Project
The regulatory position subsequently became much clearer. Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, doing business as Wynn Al Marjan, became a UAE licensee for Land-Based Gaming Facilities.
This was an important change from the earlier years of speculation surrounding casino gaming in the Emirates. Wynn Al Marjan was no longer merely a hypothetical casino project discussed in the international media.
2025 – Financing and Construction Progress
In February 2025, Wynn announced that the project had obtained a $2.4 billion construction facility from a global syndicate of lenders.
Construction also continued to transform Al Marjan Island, making the scale of the future resort increasingly visible.
2026 – September 2027 Opening Announced
By 2026, the question was no longer simply whether the resort would be built, but when visitors would actually be able to experience it.
Wynn provided the clearest answer so far in August 2026, announcing that Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to open in September 2027.
September 2027 – Expected Opening
If the current timetable is maintained, September 2027 will mark the arrival of a new type of entertainment destination in the UAE: a large integrated resort combining a federally licensed land-based gaming facility with luxury hospitality, restaurants, nightlife and leisure.
Where Is the Casino Opening Near Dubai?
The new casino resort is being developed on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
Al Marjan Island is a man-made island destination on the Arabian Gulf. Wynn describes the resort as being approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
This explains why the development appears so frequently in searches for terms such as Casino opening in Dubai, New Casino in Dubai and Casino near Dubai.
Geographically, however, the distinction should remain clear: Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai are separate emirates.
A New Casino Is Being Built on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah
How Far Is the New Casino From Dubai?
Wynn describes Al Marjan Island as approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport and less than 50 miles away.
Actual journey times will naturally depend on traffic and where a visitor starts in Dubai, but the relative proximity creates an interesting tourism connection between the two emirates.
A visitor could, for example, spend part of a UAE trip enjoying Dubai’s hotels, restaurants, beaches, shopping and nightlife before continuing to Ras Al Khaimah for the integrated-resort experience.
This does not make Wynn Al Marjan Island a Dubai casino, but it explains why the resort is highly relevant to people planning a casino-oriented trip through Dubai.
Dubai Casino Hotel
What Will the New Resort Offer?
Wynn Al Marjan Island is being developed as much more than a stand-alone casino. The integrated-resort concept combines gaming with luxury accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, entertainment and beach leisure.
Current Wynn plans describe more than 1,500 rooms, suites and other premium accommodation together with an extensive restaurant, lounge and bar selection.
The wider resort experience is expected to include:
- Luxury hotel accommodation
- Restaurants, lounges and bars
- A large gaming area
- A theatre
- A nightclub
- A beach club
- Swimming pools and private cabanas
- A five-star spa
- Luxury shopping
- Meeting and event facilities
- A private marina
- A private beach
This type of development is different from simply adding a casino room to an existing hotel. The idea is to create a destination where gaming is one part of a much broader resort experience.
Readers looking specifically for information about casino accommodation within Dubai can see our Dubai Casino Hotel guide.
What Will the New Casino Be Like?
Casino gaming will naturally be one of the features attracting particular attention as the opening approaches.
Wynn has previously outlined approximately 225,000 square feet of gaming area, indicating that the casino will be a substantial component of the resort.
However, the complete final game selection has not yet been publicly detailed. It would therefore be premature to present a specific number of slot machines, blackjack tables, roulette wheels or poker tables as confirmed.
What can already be said is that the casino is being incorporated into a much larger integrated-resort environment rather than being developed as an isolated gaming hall.
Dubai Casino
Is the New Casino Actually in Dubai?
No. This is perhaps the most important point for anyone searching for a Dubai Casino or a new casino opening in the city.
Wynn Al Marjan Island is located in Ras Al Khaimah.
Dubai itself currently has no conventional licensed land-based casino. The association with Dubai comes largely from the city’s international prominence, its position as a major tourism and aviation hub and the relatively short journey between Dubai International Airport and Al Marjan Island.
Casino in Dubai
The distinction is also important when searching for a Casino in Dubai.
Luxury hotels, nightlife, restaurants and entertainment are already major parts of the Dubai experience, but these features do not make a hotel or resort a casino.
The confirmed licensed integrated gaming development is in Ras Al Khaimah. There is currently no confirmed conventional land-based casino project within Dubai itself that can be given an opening date.
Is the New UAE Casino Licensed?
Yes. Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, doing business as Wynn Al Marjan, is listed by the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee.
The licence applies to the gaming development in Ras Al Khaimah. It should not be interpreted as a casino licence for Dubai itself.
Casinos in Dubai
The changing UAE gaming landscape naturally affects interest in Casinos in Dubai.
For years, Dubai casino searches were dominated by speculation about whether a major casino resort might eventually appear in the UAE. The development of Wynn Al Marjan Island means that the wider discussion is no longer entirely hypothetical.
At the same time, geography remains important. A casino development in Ras Al Khaimah does not become a casino in Dubai simply because it is relatively close to the city.
What Does the Casino Opening Mean for Dubai Visitors?
The most interesting effect may ultimately be the creation of two complementary tourism experiences.
Dubai already has a highly developed international tourism market built around luxury hotels, restaurants, shopping, beaches, nightlife, sport and entertainment. Wynn Al Marjan Island will add a different type of integrated-resort experience within travelling distance.
For casino enthusiasts arriving through Dubai, this could make it possible to combine the city’s existing attractions with a stay at a large casino resort during the same UAE trip.
For other travellers, the casino may be only one element of the attraction. Restaurants, nightlife, beach facilities, shopping, accommodation and entertainment are all intended to form part of the wider resort experience.
List of Casinos in Dubai
Wynn Al Marjan Island should not simply be added to a List of Casinos in Dubai because it is not physically located within the emirate.
This distinction also applies to international online casinos. A digital casino platform should not be presented as a physical Dubai casino merely because Dubai-related search terms are used to describe it.
Our dedicated list looks specifically at which casino and gaming options actually exist in Dubai and how they differ from developments elsewhere in the UAE.
Online Casino Dubai
A land-based integrated casino resort should also be distinguished from an Online Casino Dubai.
Wynn Al Marjan Island is a physical resort development. Online casino gaming is a separate digital market involving games accessed through computers and mobile devices. Readers interested specifically in online gaming can therefore use our dedicated online casino guides.
Casino Opening in Dubai FAQs
When is the new casino opening?
Wynn Resorts currently expects Wynn Al Marjan Island to open in September 2027.
Is the new casino actually in Dubai?
No. Wynn Al Marjan Island is located in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai.
Where is the new UAE casino?
The resort is being developed on Al Marjan Island in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on the Arabian Gulf.
How far is the new casino from Dubai?
Wynn describes the resort as approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport and less than 50 miles away. Actual travel times will depend on traffic and the starting point.
Is Wynn Al Marjan Island licensed for casino gaming?
Its operating entity, Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, doing business as Wynn Al Marjan, is listed by the GCGRA as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee.
How large will the gaming area be?
Wynn has outlined approximately 225,000 square feet of gaming area.
Which casino games will be available?
The complete final selection of individual games has not yet been publicly announced. Specific games, table numbers and slot-machine numbers should therefore not be treated as confirmed until further details are released.
Will the new resort have a hotel?
Yes. Wynn Al Marjan Island is being developed as a large integrated resort with more than 1,500 rooms, suites and other premium accommodation together with restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, beach facilities, shopping and other amenities.
Is there a casino opening in Dubai itself?
There is currently no confirmed conventional licensed land-based casino project within Dubai itself with an announced opening date. The casino resort expected to open in September 2027 is in Ras Al Khaimah.
Can Dubai tourists visit the new resort?
The resort is being developed as an international luxury tourism destination. Detailed procedures specifically applying to access to the gaming area can be added once they are officially announced closer to opening.
Casino Opening in Dubai – September 2027 Is the Date to Watch
Casino opening in Dubai has changed from a largely speculative search into a question with a much clearer answer. A major licensed casino resort is under construction within travelling distance of Dubai, and Wynn Resorts now expects it to open in September 2027.
The location still matters: Wynn Al Marjan Island is in Ras Al Khaimah rather than Dubai. But its proximity to Dubai International Airport means the two destinations are likely to be closely connected for many international visitors.
For casino enthusiasts, the opening will introduce a new integrated gaming experience to the UAE. For other travellers, the combination of accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, shopping and beach leisure may be just as important as the gaming floor itself.
After years of announcements, planning and construction, September 2027 is now the key date for travellers following the development of the new UAE casino resort.