Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings is confident in the UAE’s emerging gaming market, predicting it could reach up to Dh18 billion over time. Calling it the most exciting new sector for gaming in decades, Billings also dismissed concerns about competition for licenses among different emirates, noting his company’s significant head start.
Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings believes the UAE’s gaming market could be worth between $3 and $5 billion (Dh11–Dh18.35 billion), citing it as the most exciting new venue for the industry in decades.
In a recent earnings call, Billings addressed concerns about potential competition from other integrated gaming resorts within the UAE. He noted that designing and building such a complex typically requires at least four years, giving Wynn a substantial lead. “We don’t believe that every emirate will avail themselves of potential licence by any means,” Billings remarked, adding that Wynn’s Al Marjan Island project is on track to open in March 2027.
Billings expects the national gaming market to reach Dh18 billion in the coming years, driven by the UAE’s strong propensity for luxury hotels, dining, and entertainment. Even if a second property were eventually built, Billings stated that Wynn sees a clustering effect as positive, potentially boosting overall industry growth.
Construction on Wynn Al Marjan—estimated at $3.9 billion—is already underway, with topping off expected toward the end of this year. Once completed, the integrated resort will be the first of its kind in the region. Wynn anticipates that the new venue, coupled with robust local demand for high-end experiences, will deliver meaningful EBITDA and further diversify the company’s global profile. The development aligns with Wynn’s broader vision to capture a share of the UAE’s thriving tourism and hospitality sector.
Billings revealed that Wynn acquired Aspinalls in Mayfair, London, to build awareness and a customer base ahead of the UAE project launch. This strategic location caters to clientele who split their time between London and the Middle East, setting up a ready pipeline of potential Al Marjan guests.
Earlier this month, Wynn secured $2.4 billion (Dh8.8 billion) in financing from a global syndicate of banks for Al Marjan. Wynn’s equity contribution stands between $700 million and $775 million (Dh2.57–Dh2.84 billion), with the bulk of that planned for 2025 and 2026. So far, Wynn has contributed more than Dh2.3 billion to the project, which is set to conclude its investment cycle by late 2026.
Beyond Wynn’s single resort, Billings anticipates the UAE market overall to generate $3–$5 billion in gaming revenues, bolstered by a sophisticated hospitality landscape and significant consumer spending power. He asserts that the company’s rapid progress positions it uniquely to capitalize on this untapped demand, calling Al Marjan “the most exciting development project in decades.” With Wynn opening in 2027, the UAE could soon emerge as a global contender in integrated resort destinations.
