However, a new Bloomberg report stated that Dubai had opted to delay the approval of casino gaming. The UAE announced the formation of its first gaming regulatory agency, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, signaling its changing attitudes. While the UAE has traditionally prohibited gambling under Sharia law, recent indications suggest a paradigm shift.
The company is collaborating with Wasl Asset Management Group to create a high-profile venue with a flexible space of 150,000 square feet, awaiting the nod from the UAE leadership to introduce gaming into the mix. MGM Resorts International has long expressed an interest in Dubai, hoping that UAE’s number one tourist destination would finalize its plans to legalize casino resorts.
In collaboration with Wasl Hospitality and Leisure, MGM opened a branded hotel in Dubai in 2021 and has been closely monitoring the possibility of establishing a gaming regulatory framework. Dubai, the most ostentatious of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has postponed the approval of casino resorts, potentially dealing a temporary blow to MGM Resorts International’s regional ambitions.
