A Ras Al Khaimah delegation met Las Vegas tourism and city leaders during a wider U.S. visit. The emirate is preparing for Wynn Al Marjan Island’s scheduled September 2027 opening.
Wynn Al Marjan Island’s projected cost has climbed by $600 million to $5.7 billion. The nearby Middle East conflict contributed to the increase. Wynn Resorts holds a 40% stake in the joint venture with local partners.
The resort is scheduled to open in September 2027, later than its earlier first-quarter target. Its development is already shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism and business plans.
In September 2026, officials from the UAE emirate went to Las Vegas to study tourism and business partnerships. They also looked at how the city organizes major events ahead of Wynn’s opening.
The delegation’s wider U.S. itinerary included Miami and New York. It also made stops in Florida, Michigan and Utah, examining approaches to business, tourism and economic infrastructure.
Las Vegas leaders share expertise
According to The Nevada Independent, the delegation met Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill and Mayor Shelley Berkley. Discussions focused on trade shows and sporting events, along with opportunities to exchange expertise with companies operating in Ras Al Khaimah.
Hill said the visitors wanted advice on organizing trade shows and sporting events. Las Vegas was willing to share its knowledge with local businesses operating in the emirate.
The U.S. trip was intended to help the delegation learn from tourism leaders and government officials. Economic development representatives were also part of that outreach.
Tourism and infrastructure plans
Carel Richter, an adviser on international relations to Ras Al Khaimah ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, called tourism the emirate’s fastest-growing sector. He said tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product could triple over the next decade. Richter also credited Wynn with helping spur the emirate’s business expansion.
Ras Al Khaimah is prioritizing infrastructure improvements, including road access to the resort, and is considering 45,000 housing units. Plans call for a bridge about a quarter-mile long linking Wynn Al Marjan Island to the main highway. The connection is intended to improve access to Dubai and the northern emirates.
Richter also pointed to growth in manufacturing. Other sectors beyond real estate are expanding too.
Construction and gaming regulation
At the G2E trade show in Las Vegas last month, Ciarán Carruthers, CEO of the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, outlined a goal of making the country an example of regulator and operator collaboration. Wynn Al Marjan Island is set to become the UAE’s first commercial gaming property with a licensed casino. The country is establishing a national framework for commercial gaming.
The resort is planned as an integrated destination, with 5.6 million square feet of space. It will have 1,542 hotel rooms and suites, plus 22 beach villas. Plans also include 22 restaurants and lounges, along with retail and event space. The casino will occupy about 4% of the total area.
In October 2026, the project unveiled Wynn Marina, a 98-berth harbor for superyachts and megayachts up to 85 meters long. Developed with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, the marina is scheduled to open alongside the resort.
Wynn CEO Craig Billings said the project lost only one construction day because of the Middle East war. He said supply chains were now “completely normal.” The resort remains scheduled to open in September 2027, with a projected cost of $5.7 billion, up from $5.1 billion.
