Wynn Al Marjan Island: The Complete Guide (2027)
The complete guide to Wynn Al Marjan Island — the UAE's first casino resort. What it is, where it is, who owns and builds it, opening date, the casino, alcohol/smoking/pet rules, nearby hotels, and every in-depth guide in one place.
Wynn Al Marjan Island in a nutshell
Wynn Al Marjan Island is the United Arab Emirates’ first federally licensed casino resort — a US$5.1 billion integrated resort rising on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, roughly 50 minutes north of Dubai. It is owned by a joint venture (Wynn Resorts holds 40%; Ras Al Khaimah’s government-backed Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding hold the majority), built by contractor ALEC, and targeted to open in the first quarter of 2027.
This is our master guide. Every detailed question — the casino, the opening date, alcohol and smoking rules, pets, ownership, nearby hotels — has its own in-depth guide, all linked below and kept current as news lands.
For years, Ras Al Khaimah has been the quieter, better-value alternative to Dubai: beach resorts, family hotels, the Hajar Mountains, desert trips and low-key luxury. Wynn changes that. When it opens, Wynn Al Marjan Island will be one of the most-watched hotel launches in the Middle East and the anchor of a new luxury-and-entertainment economy for the emirate. This guide explains exactly what it is, where it is, who is behind it, what it will offer, and the rules and practicalities you need before planning a trip around it.
Wynn Al Marjan Island: the key facts
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| What it is | The UAE’s first licensed integrated casino resort |
| Location | Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (~50 min from Dubai) |
| Owner | Joint venture: Wynn Resorts (40%) + Marjan & RAK Hospitality Holding (majority) |
| Operator / brand | Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ: WYNN) |
| Main contractor | ALEC Engineering and Contracting |
| Cost | ~US$5.7 billion (about Dh18.7 billion) |
| Size | 70-storey tower; 1,530 rooms & suites; 22 restaurants & bars; spa; marina; 420 m private beach |
| Gaming licence | UAE’s first commercial gaming licence (GCGRA), 4 October 2024 |
| Opening | Targeted for Q1 2027 |
What is Wynn Al Marjan Island?
Wynn Al Marjan Island is an integrated resort — the industry term for a single mega-property that combines a luxury hotel, a wide spread of restaurants and bars, entertainment, retail, meeting and event space, and a regulated casino, all under one roof. It is the model Wynn Resorts perfected in Las Vegas, Macau and Boston, brought to the Middle East for the first time.
What makes it historic is the gaming element. On 4 October 2024 the project received the UAE’s first-ever commercial gaming facility licence from the newly created General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). That makes Wynn Al Marjan the first legal casino resort anywhere in the Gulf’s mainstream tourism market — a genuine turning point for the region.
Where is Wynn Al Marjan Island?
Wynn Al Marjan sits on Al Marjan Island, a cluster of four man-made coral-shaped islands reaching into the Arabian Gulf in Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s northernmost emirate. The area is already resort-led, with several beach hotels, and it is deliberately calmer than Dubai’s dense tourist districts.
Most international visitors arrive via Dubai International Airport and take a road transfer of roughly 45–60 minutes north; Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is closer still, about 15 minutes away. For the full lay of the land, see our Wynn Al Marjan location guide.
When does Wynn Al Marjan Island open?
The resort is targeted to open in the first quarter of 2027. Construction is well past the halfway mark — the 70-storey tower has topped out and Wynn has said around two-thirds of the US$5.1 billion budget is already spent or committed. Dates can still move, so we track every confirmed milestone in our Wynn Al Marjan opening date and latest news guide.
Who owns and is building Wynn Al Marjan Island?
This trips people up constantly, because “Wynn” the resort is not owned outright by “Wynn” the company. The resort is a three-way joint venture: Wynn Resorts holds a 40% stake and provides the brand, design and management, while the controlling majority is held by two Ras Al Khaimah government-backed developers — Marjan (the master developer of Al Marjan Island) and RAK Hospitality Holding, which merged into a single company under the Marjan brand in October 2025.
The main contractor building the resort is ALEC Engineering and Contracting, one of the UAE’s largest construction firms. In short: Marjan develops the land, ALEC builds it, and Wynn Resorts operates it. For the full ownership breakdown, stakes, financing and the story of Wynn Resorts itself, read who owns Wynn Al Marjan Island.
What to expect: rooms, dining and the resort experience
Wynn Al Marjan is built for the top of the market. Expect around 1,530 rooms, suites and villas in a 70-storey tower, a five-star spa and salon, multiple pools with private cabanas, a full-service marina, designer retail, a grand ballroom and events centre, and 22 restaurants, bars, lounges and a beach club spanning fine dining to casual. Fronting it all is 420 metres of private white-sand beach on the Arabian Gulf.
For the detailed rundown of the accommodation tiers, dining concepts and entertainment, see what to expect at Wynn Al Marjan, and see how it stacks up against the emirate next door in Wynn Al Marjan vs Dubai hotels.
The casino and gaming
The casino is the headline. As the holder of the UAE’s first gaming licence, Wynn Al Marjan will operate a regulated land-based gaming floor overseen by the GCGRA. Expect a controlled, formal environment closer to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands than the old Las Vegas Strip — strict entry, adults-only access, and passport ID checks. The gambling minimum age is expected to be set at 21. Our Wynn Al Marjan casino guide covers the rules and the regulatory backdrop.
Rules and policies: alcohol, smoking, pets
Alcohol and smoking: Ras Al Khaimah is not a dry emirate — alcohol is served in licensed venues, and as of 1 January 2026 the legal drinking age here dropped from 21 to 18. Smoking is expected on the adults-only casino floor and in cigar lounges, but not in restaurants or standard rooms; vaping is legal. Full detail in does Wynn Al Marjan allow smoking & drinking.
Pets and dogs: Wynn’s brand allows service animals only, so don’t expect to bring a pet — but the neighbouring Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island is genuinely dog-friendly. See does Wynn Al Marjan allow pets & dogs for the honest answer and the UAE pet-import rules.
Where to stay near Wynn Al Marjan
Until Wynn opens, you can already base yourself on or near Al Marjan Island, from value hotels to beachfront five-stars. When comparing, weigh distance to the Wynn site, beach quality, dining, family facilities, transfer time and whether nearby construction affects the stay. Start with hotels near Wynn Al Marjan and our best hotels in Ras Al Khaimah guide.
Should you visit before or after Wynn opens?
Visit before if you like quieter, better-value resort holidays — peaceful beaches, family resorts and mountain trips. Ras Al Khaimah still feels calmer than it likely will once Wynn draws crowds and pushes prices up. Wait if the resort itself is the reason for the trip: for Wynn’s own rooms, dining, casino and entertainment, hold out for confirmed opening details and official booking before planning around it.
How to get to Wynn Al Marjan Island
Al Marjan Island is easy to reach despite being in the UAE’s northernmost emirate. Most international travellers fly into Dubai International Airport (DXB) and drive north — the transfer is roughly 45 to 60 minutes (about 100 km) by taxi, private transfer or hire car along the E11 Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT) is far closer, around 15 minutes from the island, though it has fewer international connections. From Abu Dhabi, allow around two hours.
Once Wynn opens it will run its own transfers and taxi ranks, and Al Marjan Island is served by causeway from the RAK mainland. If you plan to explore the emirate — Jebel Jais, the desert, the old town — a car is useful. See our guides to Dubai airport to Ras Al Khaimah, car hire in Ras Al Khaimah and getting around Ras Al Khaimah.
How much will it cost to stay at Wynn Al Marjan?
Room rates have not been published — bookings are not yet open. What we can say honestly is that Wynn positions itself at the very top of the luxury market worldwide, so expect premium, five-star-plus pricing rather than the value rates Ras Al Khaimah is currently known for. When Wynn opens, it is likely to reset the ceiling for hotel prices across the emirate. If budget matters, the window to enjoy cheaper RAK is before the opening. We will publish indicative rates here as soon as Wynn releases them.
Is Wynn Al Marjan Island family-friendly?
Mostly yes — with one clear exception. The resort is a full luxury hotel with a private beach, multiple pools, a spa and family accommodation, and Wynn’s other properties cater well to families outside the gaming areas. The casino, however, is strictly adults-only: minors cannot enter the gaming floor at all, and the atmosphere in the gaming and nightlife venues is aimed at adults. Families can absolutely stay and enjoy the beach and dining; they simply won’t be part of the casino side.
Why Wynn matters for Ras Al Khaimah
Wynn Al Marjan is not just a hotel — it is the anchor of a deliberate transformation of the emirate. Ras Al Khaimah is targeting 3.5 million tourists a year by 2030, and the Wynn effect is already visible: a wave of new hotel projects on and around Al Marjan Island, sharply rising property interest, and international investors moving in ahead of the opening. The government-backed developer Marjan (now merged with RAK Hospitality Holding) is building out the wider destination, and Wynn and its partners have reportedly secured land for a possible second integrated resort, with talk of a future IPO.
For travellers, that means RAK will get busier, glossier and more expensive. For investors and industry watchers, it signals a new Gulf leisure hub taking shape around a single landmark project.
Wynn Al Marjan Island timeline
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Wynn Resorts and Marjan announce the integrated resort |
| 2023 | UAE establishes the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) |
| Oct 2024 | Wynn Al Marjan granted the UAE’s first commercial gaming licence |
| Feb 2025 | US$2.4 billion financing completed — reportedly the largest hospitality deal in UAE history |
| Oct 2025 | Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding merge into one developer |
| Q1 2027 | Targeted opening |
All Wynn Al Marjan Island guides
Every detailed guide in our Wynn Al Marjan series is listed below — this directory updates automatically as we publish new pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is Wynn Al Marjan Island?
It is the UAE’s first federally licensed integrated casino resort — a US$5.7 billion luxury resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, with about 1,530 rooms, 22 restaurants and bars, a spa, a marina, a private beach and a regulated casino.
When does Wynn Al Marjan Island open?
It is targeted to open in the first quarter of 2027. Construction is well past halfway and the tower has topped out.
Who owns Wynn Al Marjan Island?
A joint venture: Wynn Resorts holds a 40% stake, while the majority is held by Ras Al Khaimah’s government-backed developers Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, which merged in October 2025. It is built by contractor ALEC and operated by Wynn Resorts.
Where is Wynn Al Marjan Island?
On Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE — roughly 45–60 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport and about 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.
Can you drink and smoke at Wynn Al Marjan?
Yes to alcohol, in licensed venues — the Ras Al Khaimah drinking age is now 18. Smoking is expected on the adults-only casino floor and in cigar lounges, not in restaurants or standard rooms; vaping is legal in the UAE.
Does Wynn Al Marjan allow pets?
Expect service animals only, in line with Wynn’s brand. For a genuinely pet-friendly stay on the same island, the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island welcomes dogs and cats.
Bottom line
Wynn Al Marjan Island is the single biggest thing to happen to Ras Al Khaimah tourism — the Gulf’s first legal casino resort, backed by the emirate’s government and run by a proven global operator, opening Q1 2027. If you want quieter, cheaper RAK, go before it opens. If you want Wynn itself, wait for official booking. Either way, bookmark this page: we keep it and every linked guide current as confirmed information lands.
Some details for the unopened resort are informed projections based on Wynn’s existing resorts and current UAE / Ras Al Khaimah law, and are labelled as such in each guide. Sources include Wynn Al Marjan Island, Wynn Resorts investor disclosures and UAE government portals. Last reviewed July 2026.