GCGRA chairman Jim Murren also tipped the UAE market to become bigger than Singapore.
The UAE could have four integrated casino resorts by 2035 according to Jim Murren, chairman of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
“I would expect over time, over the next five to 10 years, there’ll be two to four integrated resorts here in the UAE,” said Murren during a panel discussion at travel industry event Skift Global Forum East.
“I think the market here in the UAE will be bigger than Singapore.”
Only one integrated casino resort development - Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) - has acquired a GCGRA license to date. It is due to open in spring 2027.
Murren added that new licensed casino resort projects would be located outside of RAK, indicating that the GCGRA is ready to support the introduction of legal land-based gambling across the country.
The UAE may also be close to green-lighting regulated online casinos and sports betting sites, with industry sources indicating that the GCGRA has offered 1 online gambling license to each of the country’s seven emirates.
