An affinity for gambling is not something you would associate with the UAE, due to it being forbidden in Islamic law. Yet recently, the country has changed its approach. This has been personified in the Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $5.1 billion resort with a casino complex. Due to recent tensions in the area, construction was halted, though it has now resumed, and the UAE seems set to continue its changes regarding gambling entertainment.
The Changing Face of Gambling in the Middle East
Gambling in the Middle East is changing, particularly in the UAE. Not only has the country begun building its first casino, but it has also recently opened up its online gambling portals. These allow players the ability to play games as well as make sports bets. It follows many other countries that have seen the taxable benefit a licensed and regulated market can bring. Examples include companies like 1xbet Irish State, which have allowed people in the country to have access to a platform that includes both sports betting, casino, and new innovations like crash gaming. All of this comes with secure payment methods and easy-to-use payment gateways.
Wynn, the company at the heart of the project, announced that work on the building had “resumed following a short pause. Steps have been taken to ensure the safety and security of all employees working on site. We note that for broad segments of the local population, business continues to follow normal patterns.”
The Wynn Al Marjan Island
In January, the main tower on the site had reached 299 metres, and it had concrete in place up to the 71st floor. The company also said that the 1,530 rooms were complete, along with the luxury Marina Estates. Once completed, the resort will also include a spa, a shopping mall, 10 restaurants and lounges, gaming areas, and entertainment spaces. In addition to this, it also announced a residential complex for its 7000 workers.
To service the resort, a 648-metre Wynn Bridge is also being made. This will link it to two major highways, the E311 and E611. It will connect the other Emirates to Dubai, and it is expected that this will be completed later in the year. Estimates are that an opening in Spring 2027 is still on track.
Wynn owns a 40% stake in the project, making it vital that it remains on course. They have projected $8.0 billion in revenue, with $624.0 million in earnings by 2028. This will require a year-on-year growth of 4.6%.
UAE Online Casinos
In December, the country very quietly launched its online gambling platforms. The country's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority granted one license, which enabled its users who were over the age of 21 to place a bet. The website went live without any formal announcement, and it was only available to access from within the UAE.
The site is operated by Dubai-based Coin Technology Projects LLC. They have described themselves as having “immersive experiences in gaming and all things sports”. Crucially, visitors can place bets on sports from around the world, including the NBA, EPL, and motorsports, amongst others. Casino games also run alongside this, so those logged on can enjoy blackjack, poker, and slots.
Citizens of the Emirates may be required to provide additional identity checks. This will be dependent on which of the seven Emirates they reside in. Alongside this are a host of safer gambling initiatives. These include self-exclusion features, with the ability to block certain forms of gambling for a six-month period.
Gambling in the Middle East
Gambling is expanding across the Middle East region. When combined with Africa, it accounts for only 2% of global revenue. Yet the market is expected to grow by 3.7 annually, in the run-up to 2031, with the Gulf alone expected to reach highs of 4.5%. All of this is against a backdrop of slowing growth in other geographical locations.
The trepidation in launching these products by the UAE and their cautious approach may be astute. Many other Islamic Nations have taken different approaches to gambling, and ignoring the issue has not always worked. Algeria is one country that is currently struggling with a wave of gambling among younger demographics. Most of this is based on football betting, particularly for European leagues and tournaments.
Online gambling companies, which are based offshore, do not provide user data to the country. Yet looking at search trends, it has been easy to see that around 2.13 million visits to gambling companies have been logged.
Other countries have quite lax approaches to gambling. Morocco is an Islamic nation that has long had a gambling industry, though it is open mainly to foreigners. This has centred on physical casinos in the main tourist destinations. All of these signals indicate that a change is taking place across the regions. MENA countries do have a lot of information to go from, looking at how other countries and states have implemented their own legislation.
This article was written in cooperation with BAZOOM