Perched on the pristine shores of the Arabian Gulf, Wynn Al Marjan Island is poised to become a transformative resort development. Slated to open in early 2027 in Ras Al Khaimah, this ambitious coastal destination from Wynn Resorts blends architectural innovation, cultural sensitivity, and legendary service into one extraordinary vision. 

At the heart of its design is not just a luxury resort, but a new benchmark for integrated hospitality in the region, crowned by Enclave, a rarefied world in the sky and the UAE’s first licensed casino experience.

But the story of Wynn Al Marjan Island begins with a deliberate and strategic choice of setting: Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the UAE. Known for its rugged mountains, desert landscapes, and miles of unspoiled coastline. 

“Ras Al Khaimah offers something truly rare,” said a spokesperson from Wynn Resorts. “A combination of authenticity, natural beauty, stability, and strategic openness to innovation that allows us to reimagine luxury in a new way.” The emirate’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan emphasizes sustainable development, cultural preservation, and high-end tourism, aligning perfectly with Wynn’s values and long-term goals.

Designing from the Water Out

When Todd-Avery Lenahan, President & Chief Creative Officer of Wynn Design & Development, began conceptualizing the property, the design narrative started from a simple but profound instinct: design from the water out.

“Al Marjan sits on a natural crescent-shaped archipelago with uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf,” Lenahan explained. “So, we rotated the entire resort to face northwest, ensuring every restaurant, pool, and guest room takes in those blue horizons and sunsets.”

The design embraces a soft coastal palette, embracing blond stone, chalk whites, sea-tinted glass that reflects its environment rather than overpowering it. Unlike the opulence and moodiness of Las Vegas, Wynn Al Marjan Island offers an elevated Mediterranean sensibility, inviting guests to step into a sun-washed world where sea and sky set the tone.

A Historic First for the UAE

Among the resort’s most groundbreaking features is its gaming facility. In a landmark move, Wynn Resorts was awarded the UAE’s first gaming license in October 2024 by the newly formed General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority. This license unlocks the potential for regulated, culturally respectful gaming and introduces a new era for the region’s tourism economy.

At over 225,000 square feet, the gaming house at Wynn Al Marjan Island will be the largest in the world outside the United States, surpassing even the iconic gaming floor at Wynn Las Vegas. Public areas within the resort are thoughtfully designed to ensure privacy and choice, meaning gaming distractions are never imposed on guests. “Privacy and choice are built into the plan,” said Lenahan. “Guests engage only if they wish.” This approach demonstrates how Wynn is navigating cultural expectations with a deep understanding of its regional audience.

Ras Al Khaimah’s selection as the UAE’s first jurisdiction to permit regulated gaming reflects the emirate’s pragmatic and progressive stance. Its leadership has emphasized that gaming will be tightly controlled, responsibly managed, and integrated into a broader strategy for economic diversification and high-value tourism.

When Technology Syncs with Storytelling

“We approach the resort the way a director approaches a film: millions of individual frames stitched into a single narrative,” said Lenahan. Architecture, he notes, sets the stage. Technology animates it. And service completes the story.

At Wynn Al Marjan Island, this storytelling is silent but consistent. Lighting transitions naturally from morning glow to golden sunset, pools become living light sculptures after dark, and smart controls adjust a guest’s circadian rhythm to ease jet lag. Discreet sensors empower staff to deliver service without intrusion, ensuring every breakfast terrace or late-night supper club is tuned perfectly to the guest’s expectations.

The Wynn Standard of Timelessness

Lenahan describes timelessness not as an absence of trend, but as “fashion driven by craft.” At Wynn Al Marjan Island, this is expressed through hand-carved stone, Fortuny silk lighting, museum-grade antiques, and a room aesthetic so calm and neutral that the sea and sky supply the only punctuation.

“If a guest cannot tell whether a space was created six years ago or sixty,” Lenahan noted, “we know we’ve achieved longevity.”

Scale, Sustainability & a New Economic Force

Set across more than 60 hectares, Wynn Al Marjan Island comprises 1,217 resort rooms, 297 Enclave suites, and a collection of ultra-luxury residences, including two Royal Apartments, four Garden Townhomes, and 10 standalone Marina Estates.

Twelve elaborately landscaped pools border a 420-meter private beach, while a deep-water marina will host superyachts from around the world. The skylit shopping promenade will feature some of the most venerable international luxury brands, while Coral Court will serve as a spectacular venue for year-round celebrations, galas, and global conferences.

The development, valued at between $3.8 and $5.1 billion, is not only the largest tourism investment in Ras Al Khaimah’s history, but it is also one of the most significant in the Gulf region. Wynn’s entry is expected to generate thousands of jobs, catalyze international tourism, and solidify Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a luxury destination distinct from its more commercial neighbors.

Sustainability is a core tenet of the project. The resort is pursuing Green Globes certification, aligning with Ras Al Khaimah’s Barjeel Green Building Regulations, which prioritize energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable water use.

The Future of Integrated Hospitality in the Gulf

With the resort’s tower topping out expected in late 2025 and a grand opening in early 2027, Wynn Al Marjan Island represents more than just a hospitality expansion—it’s a moment of historic convergence between culture, innovation, and ultra-luxury.

“Every dimension of our design process has been as artful and precise as cutting and polishing the facets of a rare and priceless gem,” reflected Lenahan. “As with the overall resort’s design concept of ‘veiling and revealing’ at every turn, it’s often what’s not seen that is more alluring and beautiful than what’s obvious.”

In the sunlit silence between Ras Al Khaimah’s desert peaks and the horizon of the sea, Wynn Al Marjan Island is not simply being built—it is being imagined, refined, and prepared to make history.