Wynn to Open Room Sales at Al Marjan Resort Soon as September 2027 Opening Holds

The $5.7 billion project is a joint venture between Wynn, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. It will be the UAE's first integrated resort with a land-based gaming facility. Its timetable is one of the clearest tests of whether large Gulf tourism projects can hold to their plans through the Iran war. Wynn has already pushed back the opening once, partly because of conflict-related disruption to supply chains, shipping and construction logistics. In August 2026 it raised the project budget by about $600 million to cover higher material, shipping and other costs.

"We acknowledge the uncertainty in the region, but... we are firm believers in the resilience and adaptability of the UAE," Billings said.

He set out three demand scenarios. If the conflict drags on, the resort would rely mainly on people already living in the UAE. In a more moderate case it would also draw visitors from across the region. If the conflict is resolved, Wynn's original assumptions about international demand would apply. Midweek and weekend patterns, pricing and the mix of casino customers would change with each scenario, he said. Billings expects Wynn to be "the only game in town for a substantial period of time". He pointed to the wealth of the UAE's resident population, many of them expatriates used to visiting casinos.

Wynn will decide around February what form the opening takes, and Billings said the company has "playbooks for every single iteration". Marketing is running on three tracks: Wynn's gaming hosts, who already deal with major players worldwide; a mass-marketing campaign that will start before the opening; and a customer database built from advertising that collects contact details. He said Wynn's 2025 acquisition of Wynn Mayfair in London also helps, because many London VIP customers also visit the UAE.

The building will be handed to the operations team in zones. The first zone is due just after the New Year, and the operations team will take full control in late July. Finishing work is under way across the property, including the fit-out of guest rooms. As of September the resort had hired 442 people, mostly senior executives, managers and administrative staff, according to Wynn's results presentation. Most hiring will happen in the three months before opening, to keep pre-opening costs down.

Wynn put $62.2 million of equity into the project during the quarter, taking its total contribution to just over $1.12 billion. Billings said the conflict had slowed some of the other hotel development planned nearby, which he sees as a medium- to long-term source of growth. If the resort opens on time, Wynn will consider how to use its remaining land on the island.

Wynn's group results were weaker. Operating revenue for the quarter to September 30 was $1.69 billion, down $144.7 million from a year earlier. Net income attributable to the company fell to $17.3 million from $88.3 million, and adjusted property EBITDAR dropped to $464.2 million from $570.1 million. The company blamed slower market conditions and a below-range hold rate in Las Vegas, as well as a strike that began at Encore Boston Harbor in early September.

The resort covers more than 60 hectares on Al Marjan Island. Plans include more than 1,530 hotel rooms and suites, 22 restaurants, bars and lounges, a beach club, a nightclub, a shopping promenade and a spa. The format decision in February is the next date to watch.