"Control lies with MGM again?: Could MGM be considering a Dubai resort in the UAE once more?"
Here's a lively, spun take on the casino shenanigans:
MGM Resorts shootin' for Dubai's casino jackpot
Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts International, dropped a revealing hint this week about the gaming giant's next big move. According to Hornbuckle, MGM could be going all in on a casino in Dubai, after meeting with Dubai's deputy ruler, Maktoum Bin Mohammed, last month.
Last September, Hornbuckle had shrugged off rumors that MGM had submitted a proposal to build a casino in Abu Dhabi. But his recent comments on MGM's Q1 earnings call suggest that Dubai might be the real target.
Hornbuckle, MGM Chair Paul Salem, and Barry Diller of IAG (operator's largest shareholder) met with the prince to update him on MGM's Dubai project. MGM partnered with Wasl Hospitality and Leisure in 2017 for a massive development on Jumeirah Beach. The 2 million-square-foot extravaganza, featuring the MGM, Bellagio, and Aria brands, is already under construction, but there are no gaming elements in the project so far.
"The key mission was to see the prince and to update him on our project, tell him the opportunity that we thought it could bring," Hornbuckle said. "Not only in the context of a fully integrated resort, but the potential gaming could bring to UAE, Dubai specifically, and the whole concept of entertainment and the unique things we could bring to the city."
The UAE has a federal regulatory body known as the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). But, unlike in the US, where individual emirates determine whether gaming is allowed, the rules in the UAE depend on an emirate's decision.
Dubai, the country's most populous emirate, hasn't yet hinted whether it will allow gaming. "They haven't said yes, they haven't said no," Hornbuckle said. "We are building an environment that can accommodate it. And that building is due to complete third quarter of '27."
The Jumeirah Beach facility is expected to open in Q3 2027, as per PropSearch.ae. "It's a pretty exciting building," Hornbuckle said with a twinkle in his eye. "It’s an exciting project, a true marvel with all kinds of features. And we're hoping that we'll get to add gaming to the mix."
With Wynn already making moves to build the UAE's first integrated resort in Ras Al-Khaimah and set to open in 2027, the race is on to see who else will join the UAE's gaming market.
"It's a cat-and-mouse game with other operators," a gaming industry analyst said. "With Dubai's dynamic entertainment scene and millions of tourists pouring in every year, it's only a matter of time before they dabble in gaming."
In the meantime, MGM Resorts International shares were trading up 2.54% at $31.62 per share in New York Friday morning. Keep your eyes on Dubai, folks—this could be the beginning of a wild ride!
- Despite previously denying rumors about a casino proposal in Abu Dhabi, MGM Resorts International is currently prioritizing a casino in the emirate of Dubai, following a meeting with Dubai's deputy ruler in March.
- The gaming industry is hopeful that the Jumeirah Beach facility, a massive development in Dubai spearheaded by MGM Resorts International, will include gaming elements when it opens in Q3 2027, establishing MGM as a significant player in the UAE's growing sports and entertainment scene.
- As Dubai's dynamic entertainment scene attracts millions of tourists annually, other gaming operators, such as Wynn, are likely to consider entering the UAE's market, making it a behemoth of an industry potentially ready for takeoff in the near future.
