Rabat – UAE’s Ras al-Khaimah sheikhdom announced on January 25 a multibillion-dollar deal with Las Vegas-based casino Wynn Resorts to allow casino gaming in the gulf country.
Ruled by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ras al-Khaimah is the fifth largest of seven sheikhdoms in the country. A sheikhdom is a geographical area that exists particularly in the Gulf countries and is ruled by a tribal leader called Sheikh.
While other emirates haven’t announced similar deals, casino operator Caesars Palace is already present in the UAE running a resort in Dubai. However, the casino does not allow gambling as it is prohibited by Islam, the official religion of the UAE.
The country has attracted a significant number of tourists and businesses in recent years, with the majority of residents being expatriates.
The emirate has been trying to attract more tourists and has also adopted liberal alcohol rules.
When asked whether the “gaming” would involve gambling, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) repeatedly declined to address the Associated Press questions.
“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,” RAKTDA said in a statement.
The statement added that the casino’s gaming section would require “compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including financial crime laws) from operators, suppliers and employees.”
Wynn Resorts is also located in Boston and Macau. In the UAE, the Wynn Resorts development is planned to be built on Ras al-Khaimah’s man-made Al-Marjan Island and will include around 1,000 hotel rooms, a mall, a convention center, restaurants and the “gaming area.”
“The newly announced integrated resort is still in its early design phase and due for completion by 2026,” noted a follow-up statement from Marjan, the Ras al-Khaimah developer involved in the deal. “These are all the details that can be provided at this stage.”
On Tuesday, Wynn Resorts sent a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, saying it has entered an agreement with Ras al-Khaimah for “the development and subsequent management of an integrated resort.”
Wynn Resorts also issued a statement on its website where it repeatedly mentioned “gaming” facilities, but it has yet to be seen whether the resorts will include cash betting as well.
Gambling remains rare and illegal in many Muslim countries, with only Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia being home to several casinos.
In Morocco, there are seven land-based casinos in total, with Agadir city being the largest gambling spot. The oldest casino is Casino de Marrakech while the largest one in the country is the Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort located in El Jadida.
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