MGM Resorts still waiting on UAE casino licence
Summary
Eight years after announcing a partnership with UAE developer Wasl to build a 10.5-hectare integrated resort on Jumeirah Beach, MGM Resorts is still awaiting formal approval for a casino at the site known as the Island. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed has not yet greenlit gaming at the $2.5 billion project, though MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle remains confident the licence will come in time.
The Island is planned as a “Vegas-inspired” resort housing Bellagio, MGM and Aria brands and is due to open in the second half of 2028. MGM initially said the resort would not include a casino, but shifted position after market studies estimated a $5bn–$8bn opportunity in the UAE. Wynn Resorts has already secured the country’s first gaming licence for its Wynn Al Marjan project in Ras Al Khaimah, which holds an exclusive, renewable 15-year licence.
MGM expects multiple casino operators in the Emirates, citing potential for three or four properties. The regulatory board includes former MGM executives, which industry observers see as potentially favourable to MGM’s prospects. Hornbuckle says he believes the Island will get a casino “over time” and calls the opportunity “massive”.
Source
Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/mgm-resorts-still-waiting-uae-casino-licence/
Key Points
- MGM and Wasl announced plans in 2017 for the Island, a 10.5-hectare beachfront integrated resort in Dubai.
- Sheikh Mohammed has not yet approved a casino for the $2.5bn project; MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle remains confident a licence will be granted eventually.
- MGM reversed an earlier stance (Feb 2024) and now considers a casino essential given Morgan Stanley estimates of a $5bn–$8bn UAE gaming market.
- Wynn Resorts holds the first UAE gaming licence for Wynn Al Marjan and will have an early monopoly in Ras Al Khaimah with a 15-year renewable licence.
- MGM expects three or four casinos across the Emirates and plans the Island to open in H2 2028 regardless of immediate casino approval.
- The UAE regulator’s board includes former MGM figures (Jim Murren and William Grounds), which could influence licensing prospects.
Context and relevance
The story matters for anyone tracking global casino expansion, Gulf tourism development and hospitality investment. The UAE is positioning itself as a major gaming and travel hub for wealthy expats and global visitors; a successful MGM licence would signal growing competition to Wynn and could help the UAE rival established Asian gaming centres.
Why should I read this?
Short and blunt: if you follow casino markets, Gulf tourism or hospitality deals, this is the moment where policy, politics and huge hotel money collide. It tells you who’s likely to dominate the UAE gaming scene, when the Island might open, and why MGM thinks the prize is worth waiting on.
Author style
Punchy: this is a succinct industry update with clear commercial stakes — licensing delay, big market potential and strategic positioning by two major US operators. Worth a quick read if you need to stay on top of where Gulf gaming is heading.