MGM Resorts Chief Executive Bill Hornbuckle has confirmed the operator has applied for a casino licence with the Abu Dhabi government, making it the second casino group to apply for a licence in the UAE after Wynn Resorts was successful in Ras Al Khaimah.
Talking at the Skift Global Forum in New York, Mr Hornbuckle said: “The way it will work, the federal government, the Abu Dhabi government, will approve it. We’ve applied for something there and hopefully will win something there. Then each ruler will has their say. It’s like a state, where each state says yes or no. I hope and believe we’ll hear more from Abu Dhabi later this year about the federal mandate and federal oversight.”
MGM Resorts has already agreed to develop its MGM, Bellagio and Aria brands as hotels in Dubai and has previously worked with Dubai World on its CityCenter project in Las Vegas.