The firm’s senior leadership remains hopeful that gaming can be integrated into the project.
Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts, has revealed that the company’s development of a resort complex in Dubai is set to be completed in late 2027.
The project was launched in 2017 after MGM secured a non-gaming management agreement with real estate management firm Wasl Hospitality.
Unlike its competitor, Wynn, MGM has yet to receive a GCGRA license that would allow it to operate gaming facilities in the UAE despite the new resort being designed to accommodate this.
However, Hornbuckle is hopeful that gaming can eventually be integrated into the project.
An MGM team met with Maktoum Bin Mohammed, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, in late April to discuss “the potential gaming could bring to not only UAE, but Dubai specifically.”
“It was a great conversation,” said Hornbuckle of the meeting during the Q&A session of MGM’s recent Q1 2025 Earnings Call.
“Hopefully, we’ll get to add gaming,” he added. “The ball truly now… is in their court.”
MGM is keen to establish a foothold in the UAE to further build on impressive recent results both off and online.
In February it announced its best ever full-year net revenues, up 7% to $17.2 billion.
In April it disclosed Q1 2025 results for BetMGM, a joint venture with Entain, which revealed a 68% year-on-year net revenue growth across online sports betting.
