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MGM applies for UAE casino licence says CEO

By Pramod Kumar
An impression of Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, which is slated to open in early 2027 Wynn Resorts
An impression of Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, which is slated to open in early 2027

US hospitality and entertainment group MGM Resorts has submitted a proposal to the UAE government to secure a casino operating licence, CEO Bill Hornbuckle has confirmed.

“The way it will work is the federal government in Abu Dhabi will approve it, we’ve applied for it and hopefully we’ll win the licence there,” Hornbuckle said at the Skift Global Forum 2024 last week.

“Each ruler has their city, their state. Each can say yes or no,” he said.

Rival Las Vegas-based hospitality group Wynn’s is building a $4 billion, 1,500-room resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. 

The complex is expected to open in early 2027 and Wynn’s CEO Craig Billings told analysts in 2022 that it would include a casino. 

In August, Wynn Resorts closed a deal to bank an additional 70 acres of land in the emirate for future development.

The CEO has already hinted at the possibility of opening a branch in Dubai, buoyed by evolving gaming regulations in the UAE.

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