The Latest on Dubai's Proposed Casino

The UAE launched the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority in 2023, showing its earliest intention to legalise commercial gaming with the potential for licenced establishments. Big-player investors and developers have since turned their attention to Dubai, where a massive project is already underway on the Jumeirah Beach.

The purpose-driven MGM project is, aiming to develop three luxury towers with the Belaggio, MGM, and Aria brand names. No licence has been granted yet, but the MGM investors have already planned and designed a $2.5 billion resort with space for gaming for when Dubai allows casinos. The decision remains with local leadership who are cautiously considering the project but have not outright rejected it.

Many tourists and expats play casino games from the UAE. Gambling expert Alex Hoffman highlights that while it is legal to gamble in the UAE, some sites allow players to access a variety of games with built-in VPNs that block data tracking. These sites also widely accept cryptocurrencies popular in the UAE, enabling players to stay anonymous during transactions while they enjoy fast payouts and great bonuses.

Still, the MGM Resorts CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, said that the Dubai resort’s development already reached the fifth floor by the first quarter of 2025. He confirmed that their top executives recently consulted with Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Dubai’s Deputy Ruler.

The executives discussed the potential of gaming and provided construction updates. Hornbuckle thought the meeting was successful, albeit he emphasised that decisions about the proposed licence remained in the hands of Dubai’s leaders.

MGM applied for a UAE casino licence in late 2024, setting its sights on Abu Dhabi. However, the group has since turned its interests to Dubai. Hornbuckle suggested that they would focus the plans and energy on Dubai because of its impressive tourist figures. More than 17 million global tourists travelled through Dubai International Airport in 2024 alone, showing how the city could become a potential gateway for hospitality and tourism spending.

Dubai hasn’t confirmed that it will allow the gaming floor yet, even though the broader UAE started moving ahead after forming the regulatory board. Wynn Resorts obtained the first commercial-style gaming licence in the city of Ras Al-Khaimah. They plan to open a $3.9 billion casino in 2027. The project is set in stone with a licence for the resort on Al Marjan Island, which may add pressure to Dubai’s decision to permit the casino in its city.

Dubai’s potential for a licenced gaming floor has everyone watching closely because the infrastructure is already in development. The MGM resort was never supposed to be a simple or traditional hotel. It always aimed to support gaming with leadership approval.

Financial analysts also suggested that the resort project and potential advantages could come to fruition faster if licences were approved, making it a valuable asset for global gaming and hospitality. The investment potential is unimaginable.

Early forecasts reveal that the UAE gaming market could generate $3-5 billion per year with larger projections based on the city’s tourism returning to normal. Dubai has the ability to balance legal caution with global market appeal to make the city a perfect space for more future projects of this size or nature if the board grants the licence.

The towers are rising steadily along the beach right now, with the WASL Island project set to complete in early 2028. However, no gaming floor has officially been approved yet. Stakeholder conversations continue to build momentum, and the growing interest from world-renowned operators remains important and adds pressure for a granted licence.

Dubai’s leadership has always made decisions based on strategy with long-term opportunities in mind. The city officials have no pressure to rush decisions, but everyone else waits and watches closely as officials consider the potential incorporation of a gaming floor. The latest on Dubai’s proposed casino still unfolds, with big-name developers, expert financial analysts, and investors watching every move.