Was There a Casino in Dubai in 2021 or 2022?
Was there a casino in Dubai in 2021 or 2022? Looking back, these two years represent an interesting period in the development of casino gaming in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai itself did not have a conventional licensed land-based casino in either year, but in January 2022 an announcement in neighbouring Ras Al Khaimah fundamentally changed the discussion about the future of casino resorts in the UAE.
Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding announced plans for a major integrated resort on Al Marjan Island. At the time, the project was described as including more than 1,000 hotel rooms, luxury shopping, a spa, extensive entertainment, more than ten restaurants and lounges – and a gaming area.
That announcement did not mean that a casino in Dubai had opened. The project was located in Ras Al Khaimah. But it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the UAE’s gaming and tourism landscape.
Was There a Casino in Dubai in 2021?
No. In 2021, Dubai did not have a conventional licensed land-based casino.
At that time, the idea of a future Dubai casino was still largely associated with speculation. Dubai already had many of the characteristics associated internationally with major casino and integrated-resort destinations – luxury hotels, international tourism, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and large-scale entertainment – but not the casino floor itself.
Horse racing at Meydan and Jebel Ali was also an established part of the city’s sporting culture, but horse racing should not be confused with the operation of a conventional casino.
The situation became considerably more interesting the following year.
What Changed in 2022?
January 25, 2022 was an important date in the development of the UAE’s casino story.
Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding announced a multibillion-dollar integrated resort development on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
The original plans described a luxury resort with:
- more than 1,000 hotel rooms,
- more than ten restaurants and lounges,
- high-end shopping,
- a spa,
- meeting and convention facilities,
- extensive entertainment,
- and a gaming area.
At that stage, the resort was expected to be completed in 2026.
This was a significant development because the casino question was no longer based entirely on speculation. A major international integrated-resort operator was now publicly involved in a UAE project that explicitly included gaming.
New Casino in Dubai – Was the 2022 Wynn Project in Dubai?
No. The project announced in 2022 was never a Dubai casino.
It was planned for Al Marjan Island in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
This distinction remains important today. The resort’s proximity to Dubai and the importance of Dubai as an international tourism gateway can easily create confusion about its actual location.
Readers looking for the current situation can find more information in our guide to a new casino in Dubai.
Ras Al Khaimah Created a Gaming Regulation Department in 2022
Another important development took place on the same day as the Wynn announcement.
On January 25, 2022, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announced the creation of its Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation.
The new division was intended to regulate integrated resorts in Ras Al Khaimah, including their hotel operations, restaurants and lounges, entertainment, retail and gaming facilities.
At the time, its responsibilities were described as including licensing, taxation, operational procedures and consumer safeguards.
This was the regulatory environment surrounding the early development of the Ras Al Khaimah integrated-resort concept in 2022. The UAE’s regulatory structure subsequently developed further at federal level.
Casino in Dubai 2021 vs. Casino in Dubai 2022
The difference between 2021 and 2022 was therefore not that Dubai suddenly received a casino.
The important change was that a major integrated gaming resort had been officially announced elsewhere in the UAE.
| Period | Casino & Gaming Situation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Dubai had no conventional licensed land-based casino, and the Wynn Al Marjan project had not yet been publicly announced. |
| January 2022 | Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding announced an integrated resort with a gaming area in Ras Al Khaimah. |
| 2022 | RAKTDA established its Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation for integrated resorts in Ras Al Khaimah. |
| 2023 | The UAE established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) at federal level. |
| Today | Wynn Al Marjan is officially listed as a UAE Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee and the resort is under construction. |
| September 2027 | Wynn Al Marjan Island is currently expected to open. |
Online Casino Dubai – A Different Part of the Story
In 2021 and 2022, searches for Online Casino Dubai were already common, partly because Dubai itself did not have a conventional casino floor.
However, international online gaming and the development of a physical integrated casino resort are two different subjects.
International casino websites may hold licences issued outside the UAE, but such licences should not be interpreted as authorization to offer commercial gaming within the UAE.
The UAE regulatory landscape has also changed substantially since 2021 and 2022. Internet Gaming is now recognised as a separate commercial gaming category within the federal regulatory framework.
For this reason, the historical online gaming situation of 2021 or 2022 should not simply be used to describe the UAE gaming market today.
How the Wynn Project Changed After 2022
The resort announced in January 2022 has grown considerably since those first plans were published.
What began publicly as a project with more than 1,000 rooms and more than ten restaurants and lounges has developed into a much larger integrated resort.
Current plans describe more than 1,500 rooms, suites and other premium accommodation, more than 20 restaurants and lounges, luxury retail, pools, spa facilities, entertainment, a nightclub and beach club.
The planned gaming area covers approximately 225,000 square feet.
The development has also received its official name: Wynn Al Marjan Island.
This evolution illustrates how much has changed since people first began searching for information about a possible casino in Dubai in 2021 and 2022.
From the RAK Regulator to the GCGRA
The regulatory environment has changed significantly since the original Wynn announcement.
In 2022, the discussion centred on Ras Al Khaimah’s newly established Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation.
In September 2023, the United Arab Emirates established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) as the federal authority for commercial gaming.
Today, the GCGRA lists Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC (DBA: Wynn Al Marjan) as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee.
This means the Wynn project has moved far beyond the speculative stage that characterised much of the discussion about UAE casinos in earlier years.
Casino Ras Al Khaimah – What the 2022 Project Became
The development once discussed simply as a future Casino Ras Al Khaimah is now a major integrated resort under construction.
Wynn Al Marjan Island combines two ideas that were already visible in the original 2022 announcement: luxury tourism and gaming.
The gaming floor will form part of a much larger destination incorporating accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, beach facilities, shopping and other resort experiences.
This is an important distinction. A modern integrated resort is not simply a casino building. Gaming is one element of a broader hospitality and entertainment concept.
Dubai Casino Hotel – What About Dubai?
The development of Wynn Al Marjan has also increased interest in the idea of a Dubai Casino Hotel.
Dubai already has an extensive luxury hotel and entertainment industry, but the existence of luxury resorts does not mean that those properties operate licensed casino floors.
Dubai currently does not have a conventional licensed casino hotel equivalent to Wynn Al Marjan Island.
The distinction between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah should therefore remain clear when discussing the development of casino tourism in the UAE.
Gambling in Dubai – How the Discussion Changed
Looking back at 2021 and 2022 also shows how dramatically the wider discussion surrounding Gambling in Dubai has changed.
In 2021, much of the discussion was hypothetical. There was no federal commercial gaming regulator and no publicly announced Wynn integrated resort in the UAE.
By 2022, a major resort with a gaming area had been announced in Ras Al Khaimah.
Today, the UAE has a federal commercial gaming regulator and Wynn Al Marjan is an officially licensed land-based gaming development.
What has not changed is the geographical distinction: these developments should not be used to claim that Dubai itself already has a conventional licensed casino.
Casino in Dubai 2021, 2022 & Today
Looking back, 2021 and 2022 represent two very different stages in the UAE casino story.
In 2021, the possibility of a major casino resort in the UAE remained largely theoretical from the public’s perspective.
In 2022, Wynn Resorts and its partners announced an integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah with a gaming area, while RAKTDA created a dedicated regulatory division for integrated resorts.
Today, Wynn Al Marjan Island is under construction and officially licensed as a land-based gaming facility within the UAE’s federal commercial gaming framework.
Dubai itself, however, still does not have an equivalent conventional licensed casino resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there a casino in Dubai in 2021?
No. Dubai did not have a conventional licensed land-based casino in 2021.
Was there a casino in Dubai in 2022?
No. Dubai did not have a conventional licensed land-based casino in 2022 either. However, Wynn Resorts and its partners announced a major integrated resort with a gaming area in Ras Al Khaimah in January 2022.
Was Wynn Al Marjan originally announced in 2022?
Yes. Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding announced the integrated resort project on January 25, 2022.
What did the original Wynn resort plans include?
The 2022 announcement described more than 1,000 hotel rooms, more than ten restaurants and lounges, luxury shopping, a spa, entertainment, meeting facilities and a gaming area.
Was Wynn Al Marjan originally expected to open in 2026?
Yes. The original 2022 announcement anticipated completion in 2026. The project subsequently expanded and the opening schedule changed.
When will Wynn Al Marjan Island open?
Wynn Resorts currently expects the resort to open in September 2027.
Is Wynn Al Marjan Island in Dubai?
No. Wynn Al Marjan Island is located in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai.
Does Dubai have a conventional licensed casino today?
Dubai currently does not have a conventional licensed land-based casino equivalent to Wynn Al Marjan Island.
From Casino in Dubai 2021 to the UAE Gaming Market Today
The question of whether there was a casino in Dubai in 2021 or 2022 provides an interesting snapshot of how quickly the UAE gaming landscape has changed.
There was no conventional Dubai casino in either year. But January 2022 marked an important turning point: Wynn Resorts and its partners publicly announced a major integrated resort with gaming in Ras Al Khaimah.
The original project was smaller and was expected to open in 2026. Since then, Wynn Al Marjan Island has expanded considerably, a federal commercial gaming regulator has been established, the resort has received a land-based gaming licence and its opening is now expected in September 2027.
What began as a question about whether a casino might ever appear in the UAE has therefore become a real integrated-resort development. But one fact remains important when looking back at 2021, 2022 or the situation today: Wynn Al Marjan Island is in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai.