New Casinos in Dubai – Which Casino Projects Are Actually Confirmed in 2026?
New Casinos in Dubai have become one of the most interesting subjects in the UAE’s changing entertainment landscape. Dubai already has luxury hotels, beach resorts, international nightlife, shopping and some of the world’s most ambitious hospitality developments. What it does not currently have is an officially announced and licensed conventional land-based casino.
That distinction is important. The UAE now has a federal commercial gaming regulator and a licensed land-based gaming development in Ras Al Khaimah, while major international casino companies have also shown interest in the wider UAE market. This has naturally increased speculation about whether Dubai could eventually become home to an integrated casino resort of its own.
But which new casinos in Dubai are actually confirmed? Is MGM planning a Dubai casino? What does Wynn Al Marjan mean for Dubai? And who would decide whether a casino could open in the city?
This guide separates confirmed projects from industry interest and speculation.
Are There Any New Casinos in Dubai?
As of 2026, there is no licensed conventional land-based casino currently operating in Dubai and no publicly announced Dubai casino project with a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence.
This does not mean that the subject of a future Dubai casino has disappeared. On the contrary, the creation of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the development of Wynn Al Marjan Island in neighbouring Ras Al Khaimah and previous statements from international gaming companies have made the question considerably more relevant.
The key is to distinguish between three very different things:
- A luxury resort development in Dubai
- A company expressing interest in casino gaming
- An officially licensed Land-Based Gaming Facility
Only the third represents a confirmed casino development under the UAE commercial gaming framework.
MGM and The Island – Is a New Casino Coming to Dubai?
MGM Resorts has been one of the most frequently discussed international gaming companies in connection with a possible new casino in Dubai.
The reason is a major resort development on the Jumeirah coastline that has commonly been referred to as The Island. The project has been associated with MGM Resorts hospitality brands and has attracted considerable attention because MGM is one of the world’s best-known casino and integrated-resort operators.
That background has led to repeated speculation that the Dubai development could eventually include gaming.
However, a luxury MGM-related resort project and a licensed MGM casino are not the same thing.
The current public GCGRA list of Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensees does not list MGM Resorts or an MGM-related Dubai entity.
Therefore, the project should not currently be presented as a confirmed Dubai casino.
Is MGM Licensed to Operate a Casino in Dubai?
Not according to the current public GCGRA licensee list.
MGM has previously expressed interest in the possibility of gaming in Dubai, which explains why the company continues to appear in discussions about the future of casinos in the city.
But interest, planning possibilities and licensing are separate stages.
Any company wishing to operate commercial gaming in the UAE must obtain the appropriate licence from the GCGRA. Until such a licence is officially issued and publicly confirmed, an MGM casino in Dubai should be described as a possibility rather than a confirmed casino project.
This also means that earlier reports suggesting a specific Dubai casino opening date should be treated cautiously. There is currently no officially confirmed opening date for an MGM casino in Dubai.
Wynn Al Marjan – The Confirmed Casino Near Dubai
While Dubai’s casino future remains uncertain, the situation is very different in Ras Al Khaimah.
Wynn Al Marjan Island is under construction on Al Marjan Island, and its operating entity, Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC (DBA: Wynn Al Marjan), is listed by the GCGRA as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee.
Wynn Resorts currently expects the integrated resort to open in September 2027.
The development is expected to include approximately 225,000 square feet of gaming space as part of a much larger integrated resort with more than 1,500 rooms and other premium accommodation, restaurants and lounges, entertainment, shopping, spa facilities, pools, a beach club and other leisure attractions.
Wynn Al Marjan is located in Ras Al Khaimah rather than Dubai, but its location makes it particularly relevant to the Dubai tourism market. Wynn has described the resort as approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
Why Wynn Al Marjan Matters for Dubai
Wynn Al Marjan does not prove that a casino will open in Dubai. What it does prove is that licensed land-based commercial gaming is now part of the UAE’s regulated entertainment market.
That represents an important change.
For years, discussions about a major casino resort in the UAE were largely speculative. Wynn Al Marjan has moved the subject into a different phase because there is now a real resort under construction with a licensed land-based gaming facility.
Dubai is one of the world’s best-known luxury tourism destinations and is relatively close to the Wynn development. It is therefore understandable that visitors, hotel companies and the gaming industry continue to ask whether Dubai could eventually develop an integrated gaming resort of its own.
For now, however, Wynn should be described as a casino near Dubai, not as a Dubai casino.
Dubai vs Ras Al Khaimah – Casino Status in 2026
| Question | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed conventional land-based casino project? | No publicly announced licensed project | Yes – Wynn Al Marjan |
| Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee? | None currently publicly listed | Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC (DBA: Wynn Al Marjan) |
| Casino opening date? | No confirmed date | September 2027 expected |
| Major international casino company associated with the market? | MGM has previously expressed gaming interest | Wynn – licensed development under construction |
| Gaming area announced? | No licensed casino gaming floor announced | Approximately 225,000 sq ft |
What Happened to Caesars in Dubai?
Caesars is another name frequently connected with discussions about casinos in Dubai because Caesars Palace previously operated as a hospitality brand at Bluewaters Dubai.
However, the Dubai property was a non-gaming resort. Its presence in the city should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that Caesars operated or held a licence for a Dubai casino.
The Caesars branding has since left the property. Its history remains interesting because it demonstrates that major international casino-resort brands can operate luxury hospitality businesses in Dubai without casino gaming forming part of the resort.
Who Can Approve a New Casino in Dubai?
A future casino in Dubai would require the appropriate commercial gaming licence from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
The GCGRA is the sole competent authority responsible for issuing commercial gaming licences in the UAE.
This means a Dubai hotel, resort developer or international casino company cannot simply decide independently to introduce casino gaming.
The relevant operator would first need to obtain the required GCGRA authorisation.
Current UAE Gaming Licences
The UAE commercial gaming market now extends beyond the question of physical casinos. The current public GCGRA licensee list includes different categories:
| Gaming Category | Current Publicly Listed Licensee |
|---|---|
| Land-Based Gaming Facilities | Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC (DBA: Wynn Al Marjan) |
| Internet Gaming | Coin Technology Projects LLC |
| Sports Wagering | Coin Technology Projects LLC |
| Lottery | The Game LLC – Operator of the UAE Lottery |
This distinction is important when following news about new casinos in Dubai. A Lottery, Internet Gaming or Sports Wagering Licence should not be confused with a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence for a physical casino resort.
Why Dubai Remains an Obvious Casino Question
Even without a confirmed casino project, it is easy to understand why Dubai remains at the centre of speculation about future gaming resorts.
The city already has many of the elements associated internationally with integrated resorts:
- Luxury hotels and resorts
- Large numbers of international visitors
- Fine dining
- Shopping destinations
- Beach clubs
- Nightlife
- Major entertainment events
- International air connections
- Luxury retail
- Large-scale resort developments
A modern integrated casino resort is no longer simply a building filled with gaming tables and slot machines. In destinations such as Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore, gaming can form one part of a much wider hospitality and entertainment experience.
Dubai already has considerable experience with the non-gaming elements of that model.
Whether casino gaming will eventually be added to a Dubai resort is a separate question – and one that currently remains unanswered.
What Could a New Casino in Dubai Look Like?
Since no licensed Dubai casino project has currently been announced, any discussion about its design is necessarily hypothetical.
But if Dubai were ever to enter the land-based gaming market, the city’s existing hospitality industry suggests that an integrated resort would be a more natural model than a standalone casino.
Such a development could theoretically combine:
- A luxury hotel
- A regulated gaming floor
- Restaurants and bars
- Live entertainment
- Nightlife
- Luxury shopping
- Pool and beach facilities
- Spa and wellness
- Conference and event facilities
- Premium and VIP hospitality
Wynn Al Marjan demonstrates how this model can be adapted to the UAE, but a hypothetical Dubai resort would not necessarily follow the same design, size or entertainment concept.
Would a Dubai Casino Compete With Wynn Al Marjan?
If Dubai eventually received a licensed casino resort, comparisons with Wynn Al Marjan would be inevitable.
But competition would not necessarily mean that the two destinations offered the same experience.
Ras Al Khaimah combines resort tourism with beaches, mountains and a more relaxed destination profile. Dubai has a much larger established international tourism market built around hotels, shopping, restaurants, events, architecture and entertainment.
A future casino resort in Dubai could therefore occupy a different position within the UAE tourism market.
For now, however, such comparisons remain hypothetical because Wynn Al Marjan is the confirmed development while a licensed Dubai casino has not been announced.
New Casinos in Dubai – Confirmed Projects vs Speculation
| Project or Company | Location | Current Casino Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wynn Al Marjan | Ras Al Khaimah | Confirmed licensed land-based gaming development; expected to open September 2027 |
| MGM-related resort development | Dubai | Major hospitality development associated with MGM brands; no MGM Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence currently shown on the public GCGRA list |
| Caesars | Dubai / former Bluewaters branding | Former non-gaming hospitality presence; not a licensed Dubai casino |
| Other new casinos in Dubai | Dubai | No additional licensed conventional land-based casino projects currently publicly announced |
How Can You Tell Whether a Dubai Casino Project Is Real?
Casino rumours can spread quickly, particularly when a major international hotel or gaming company becomes involved in a Dubai development.
A useful way to separate a genuine casino development from speculation is to ask several questions:
- Has the operator officially announced casino gaming?
- Has a specific operating entity been identified?
- Does the entity hold the appropriate GCGRA licence?
- Does the GCGRA list it under Land-Based Gaming Facilities?
- Has a reliable opening date been announced?
A hotel announcement or the involvement of a company that operates casinos elsewhere in the world does not automatically answer these questions.
Could Dubai Get a Casino in the Future?
It is possible to discuss the conditions under which a future Dubai casino could emerge, but it is not possible to say today that one will definitely be built.
The UAE now has a federal framework for commercial gaming, and the GCGRA has demonstrated that Land-Based Gaming Facilities can be licensed. Wynn Al Marjan provides the clearest example.
Dubai also has an enormous hospitality and tourism market and has attracted interest from major international gaming companies.
None of those facts, however, amounts to an official announcement of a Dubai casino.
The situation could change if the GCGRA grants a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence to a Dubai-based project or if a developer and the relevant authorities formally announce such a development.
Until then, the future of a new casino in Dubai remains an open and interesting question rather than a confirmed project.
What About Online Gaming in the UAE?
The development of land-based casinos should also be separated from online gaming.
The GCGRA treats Internet Gaming as a separate commercial gaming category. The current public licensee list identifies Coin Technology Projects LLC as an Internet Gaming Licensee.
This is another reason why statements such as “gambling has been legalized in Dubai” are too broad. Different commercial gaming activities have different licensing categories, and a licence for one category does not automatically create a land-based casino in Dubai.
New Casinos in Dubai – What We Know in 2026
| Question | Current Position |
|---|---|
| Is there a licensed conventional casino operating in Dubai? | No |
| Has a licensed Dubai casino resort been officially announced? | No publicly listed Land-Based Gaming Facilities project in Dubai |
| Is MGM associated with a Dubai resort development? | Yes |
| Does MGM currently appear as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee? | No, not on the current public GCGRA list |
| Is Wynn Al Marjan in Dubai? | No – it is in Ras Al Khaimah |
| Is Wynn Al Marjan licensed? | Yes – Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC is a GCGRA Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee |
| When is Wynn Al Marjan expected to open? | September 2027 |
| Who issues commercial gaming licences in the UAE? | The GCGRA |
| Could Dubai have a casino in the future? | The regulatory framework allows Land-Based Gaming Facilities to be licensed, but no Dubai casino project is currently confirmed through a publicly listed licence |
Frequently Asked Questions About New Casinos in Dubai
Are there any new casinos in Dubai?
There is currently no licensed conventional land-based casino operating in Dubai and no publicly listed Dubai Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee. There are major resort developments and continuing industry interest, but these should not automatically be described as confirmed casinos.
Is MGM opening a casino in Dubai?
MGM has been associated with a major Dubai resort development and has previously expressed interest in gaming opportunities. However, MGM does not currently appear on the public GCGRA list as a Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licensee in Dubai. An MGM Dubai casino should therefore not be presented as confirmed.
What is The Island project in Dubai?
The Island is a major hospitality development on Dubai’s coastline that has been associated with MGM Resorts hotel brands. Because MGM is internationally known for integrated casino resorts, the project has attracted considerable gaming speculation. A resort development, however, does not by itself constitute a licensed casino.
Is Wynn Al Marjan in Dubai?
No. Wynn Al Marjan Island is located in Ras Al Khaimah. Its relative proximity to Dubai makes it relevant to Dubai visitors, but geographically and regulatorily it is a Ras Al Khaimah development.
What is the nearest confirmed casino resort development to Dubai?
Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is the confirmed licensed integrated gaming development. Wynn describes its location as approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
When will Wynn Al Marjan open?
Wynn Resorts currently expects the resort to open in September 2027.
Who issues casino licences in Dubai?
The GCGRA is the sole competent authority responsible for issuing commercial gaming licences across the UAE. Any future land-based casino project in Dubai would require the appropriate GCGRA licence.
Did Caesars operate a casino in Dubai?
No. Caesars previously had a hospitality brand presence at Bluewaters Dubai, but the property was non-gaming and should not be confused with a licensed casino.
Could Dubai get a casino in the future?
The UAE now has a regulatory framework under which Land-Based Gaming Facilities can be licensed. However, there is currently no publicly announced and licensed conventional Dubai casino project, so the question remains open.
How can I check whether a new Dubai casino has really been licensed?
The clearest indicator is the official GCGRA licensee list. A genuine land-based casino operator should hold the relevant UAE commercial gaming licence rather than relying only on media speculation or the international reputation of the hotel company involved.
Final Thoughts – What’s Really Happening With New Casinos in Dubai?
The story of New Casinos in Dubai is more interesting when confirmed developments and future possibilities are kept separate.
Dubai does not currently have a licensed conventional land-based casino. MGM remains an important name in the discussion because of its connection with a major Dubai hospitality development and its international gaming background, but there is currently no MGM Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence shown on the public GCGRA list.
Wynn Al Marjan is different. The resort is under construction in Ras Al Khaimah, its operating entity holds a GCGRA Land-Based Gaming Facilities Licence, and Wynn currently expects the resort to open in September 2027.
That development has changed the wider conversation about casinos in the UAE. A regulated land-based gaming resort is no longer merely theoretical – but that does not mean Dubai is automatically next.
Dubai already has many of the ingredients associated with major international integrated resorts: luxury hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, entertainment and a huge international visitor market. Whether casino gaming eventually becomes another part of that mix will depend on future projects, official announcements and, above all, GCGRA licensing.
Until that happens, the most useful way to follow the Casinos in Dubai story is to separate what is being discussed from what has actually been approved.