Latest: Gaming 'just one element' of new RAK mega resort says developer
Ras Al Khaimah will open a multibillion-dollar resort on Marjan Island with Las Vegas hotel operator Wynn Resorts.
The development is set to open in 2026 and will have 1,000 rooms, at least 10 restaurants and a large convention centre.
The resort will also include a “gaming area”, according to a statement announcing the opening. Wynn is best known for its casino hotel resorts in Las Vegas, Boston and Macau.
Tourism chiefs have formed a new division to regulate “integrated resorts” and ensure “responsible gaming at all levels” in the emirate. The Wynn hotel will be one of these integrated resorts.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority (RAKTDA) said the “department of entertainment and gaming regulation” will oversee “hotel operations, convention space, entertainment, restaurants and lounges, spa, retail and gaming facilities” in these resorts.
“The department of entertainment and gaming regulation within RAKTDA will consider the social, cultural, and environmental landscape of the emirate and cover licensing, taxation, operational procedures and consumer safeguards,” it said.
“The foremost priority of this new division is to create a robust framework that will ensure … the regulatory structure will address the entire gaming enterprise within integrated resorts, requiring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations [including financial crime laws] from operators, suppliers and employees.”
Marjan Island is a development of four reclaimed islands with more than 7.8 kilometres of pristine beaches and 23km of waterfront, in addition to world-class hotels and residential developments.
With 1,000 rooms, the Wynn hotel would be the third largest in the country, after Dubai's JW Marriott Marquis with 1,600 rooms and Atlantis The Palm with about 1,500.
“Al Marjan Island is a pristine setting and an ideal greenfield location for us to create the one-of-a-kind guest experiences for which Wynn Resorts is renown,” said Craig Billings, chief executive of Wynn Resorts.
“The region offers tremendous potential for the hospitality and tourism industry, and we are excited about the prospect of developing an integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah.”
Marjan, meanwhile, said "gaming is a responsible form of entertainment and leisure tourism that takes into consideration community, cultural and social norms". However, it did not define what gaming meant.
"Gaming is only one of the many elements of the resort, which will also include a 1,000 plus room hotel, a high-end shopping mall, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention facility, an exclusive spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices and other amenities," a Marjan representative said.
It has yet to be known on which of the four islands the hotel will be built.
“The integrated development, featuring a world-class hotel, entertainment and gaming amenities, will add to the emirate’s destination strategy to attract tourists from across the world,” said Abdulla Al Abdooli, chief executive of Marjan.
“We are partnering with Wynn Resorts, one of the world’s most renowned integrated resort companies, which has a strong track record of developing luxury destinations with exceptional accommodation, dining, entertainment concepts and gaming facilities.”
The new resort is in the initial stages of design and development and an integrated resort licence will be applied for from RAKTDA.
Nine of the UAE's best hiking trails: in pictures
-
Wadi Helo is a Unesco Heritage Site in Fujairah recommended by Amy Subaey, managing director of UAE Trekkers. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
An old fort in Wadi Helo. The whole trail is about 1km long and only takes about an hour, says Subaey. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
A farm in Wadi Helo. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
A sunset view at Wadi Helo. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
Wadi Showka in Ras Al Khaimah is well known among the UAE’s hikers, says Paul Oliver, founder of Absolute Adventure. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
Oliver has discovered an alternative route around Wadi Showka that not many people are aware of. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
The Wadi Showka trail is about a three-hour hike in total. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
History buffs should also make a beeline for Sharjah’s Fossil Rock in Mleiha, says Oliver. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
The hike in Mleiha leads through several caves. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
The hike from Wadi Sena to Wadi Kub in Ras Al Khaimah is stunning, says Bryan Doyle, general manager of The Adventure Centre. Photo: The Adventure Centre -
Another of Doyle’s favourite trails in RAK begins from Wadi Kub, deep in the Hajar Mountains. Photo: The Adventure Centre -
The 'Tomb Raider Trek' refers to a 4,000-year-old tomb that Oliver stumbled across while hiking up to Kalba Mountain Camp in the Hajar Mountains. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
An area of what's known as the 'Tomb Raider Trek' in Sharjah. Photo: Absolute Adventure -
For more experienced hikers, Subaey recommends Wadi Dahir in Fujairah for an invigorating five-hour loop through mountains and valleys. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
Wadi Dahir offers one of Subaey's favourite hikes of all time in the UAE. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
Hatta in Dubai is great for beginner hikers, says Subaey. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
A hike around Al Hail in Fujairah is perfect if you’re looking for a bit of culture, says Subaey. Photo: UAE Trekkers -
Al Hail Castle. Photo: UAE Trekkers
