Wynn Resorts has announced a delay to the opening of its gaming resort in the UAE, with the company’s chief executive officer, Craig Billings, citing disruptions linked to the US conflict with Iran as a factor in the setback.
The $5.1bn resort, located on Al Marjan Island in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah – part of a manufactured archipelago approximately 50 miles from Dubai International Airport (DXB) – had previously been identified as opening in the first quarter of 2026 or in the spring. Wynn is no longer offering an opening date, nor is it updating any financial estimates for the project.
“At this point I would say stay tuned, but we are forging ahead with the project every day and we look forward to opening in 2027,” Billings told analysts on a call after reporting first-quarter earnings, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Wynn’s $5.1bn UAE resort faces setback as Iran war disrupts shipping to Al Marjan Island
Wynn has experienced logistical and shipping challenges in the region as a result of the ongoing US conflict with Iran. Work on the project briefly shut down after the fighting began, before resuming in March. The site currently has 22,000 workers.
“Deliveries have largely continued, and we are rerouting shipments and sourcing alternative materials where needed based on conditions,” Billings said, according to the Bloomberg report.
In November, Wynn Resorts released a construction update for Wynn Al Marjan Island, the UAE’s first integrated resort, announcing the 305-metre tower had reached its 70th floor, with the full structure set to top out by late November 2025.
The company said the spring 2027 opening remains on schedule. Work on the exterior is progressing, with nearly three-quarters of the façade panels – 19,206 out of 26,247 – now in place, while work on the roof deck is also under way.
Despite the complications surrounding its UAE development, Wynn reported first-quarter sales that rose 9.2 per cent to $1.86bn, which came in slightly above analysts’ projections, the report said, adding adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and rent rose 5.5% to $562m, though this fell short of estimates.
