Wynn Boulevard to link new UAE casino resort with Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah is pressing ahead with major infrastructure works to connect its upcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island resort with the rest of the United Arab Emirates. A new road, known as Wynn Boulevard, is under construction and will serve as a direct link between the integrated gaming resort and Dubai.
A spokesperson for Wynn Resorts told SiGMA News: “We are pleased with the progress of the new infrastructure projects, which will add another connection from Al Marjan Island to Dubai.”
The road, part of a multimillion-USD commitment to reshaping the emirate’s transport network, is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the flow of visitors once the resort opens in 2027.
A multimillion-USD road project
The new boulevard was announced at the launch of Marjan Beach, a vast residential development planned for Al Marjan Island, revealed AGBI. According to state-backed developer Marjan, more than AED 1 billion ($272 million) has already been committed to building the road.
The project will link the resort through the Marjan Beach district to the UAE’s main highways, which connect Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the Northern Emirates. Speaking at the launch, Marjan’s chief development officer Graham Hallett confirmed contracts worth over AED 1 billion had already been signed, describing the scheme as well underway.
While the road is government-led, reporting by AGBI shows that Wynn Resorts is closely involved in its design and financing through a joint venture with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. Wynn owns a 40 percent stake in the venture and is contributing to construction costs, unlike in a typical hotel management arrangement where the operator simply takes a fee.
Preparing for the UAE’s first casino
The Wynn Al Marjan Island project, estimated at $5.1 billion, will be the UAE’s first casino resort when it opens in spring 2027. Rising 70 storeys over the Gulf, the integrated resort will combine gaming with luxury hospitality, nightlife, and entertainment.
Marjan CEO Abdulla Al Abdouli has confirmed that the tower has already reached its 61st floor and is on track for completion by March 2027. “We are committed to delivering the resort by 2027, and it is on plan,” he said in an earlier interview with Khaleej Times.
The scale of the resort reflects Ras Al Khaimah’s wider ambitions. It will include 1,542 hotel rooms, more than 22 food and beverage outlets, beach clubs, a marina, and a bespoke theatre.
Economic stakes
Tourism officials in Ras Al Khaimah view the resort as a cornerstone of their strategy to increase visitor numbers to 3.5 million annually by 2030. The creation of Wynn Boulevard is central to that plan. Easy access to Dubai, identified by Wynn as the resort’s “key source market,” will be vital to filling hotel rooms and attracting international visitors.
Analysts suggest the UAE’s gaming sector could generate revenues of between $3 billion and $8.5 billion annually, with Wynn already considering a second integrated resort on Al Marjan Island.
Recruitment is already underway, with Wynn Resorts advertising positions ranging from hospitality roles to casino operations. Around 7,500 jobs are expected to be created by the project, with large-scale hiring scheduled for 2026.
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