Wynn Resorts expects a modest delay in the opening of its new casino resort in the United Arab Emirates [1].
The project represents a significant expansion into the Middle East gambling market, marking a rare shift in regional tourism and investment policy.
Chief Executive Officer Craig Billings said Thursday that the opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is now expected in 2027 [2]. The delay follows regional conflict and supply-chain challenges that have impacted construction setbacks [3].
"We now expect a modest delay in the opening date," Billings said [1].
The resort is a massive undertaking with a project cost of $5.1 billion [4]. While some reports attribute the setback to supply-chain issues [2], others link the delay to regional tensions and Iranian attacks on UAE assets [3]. Billings addressed these security concerns by praising the UAE leadership for protecting its people and assets during the conflict [3].
Reports regarding the specific nature of the conflict vary, with some sources citing a war between the U.S. and Iran, while others focus on targeted attacks [3]. Despite these tensions, the company continues to manage its broader portfolio, including the Enclave tower at Wynn Palace with a cost range between $900 million and $950 million [5].
"Wynn Al Marjan Island will face a modest delay to its 2027 opening," Billings said [2].
“"We now expect a modest delay in the opening date."”
The delay of the $5.1 billion project underscores the volatility of operating high-capital developments in the Middle East. By shifting the opening to 2027, Wynn Resorts is accounting for the intersection of geopolitical instability and global logistics failures, signaling that regional security remains a primary risk factor for foreign investment in the UAE's gaming sector.
