Wynn Al Marjan Island, the first integrated casino resort in the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled to open in spring 2027. As the debut nears, the resort has announced it will add a gallery of fine art, some culled from other Wynn Resorts properties around the world.
Company founder Steve Wynn was among the first Las Vegas resort owners to blend casino kitsch with world-class art. The gallery at Bellagio has featured art by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and Edvard Munch, among other masters. Wynn’s personal collection also includes works of Henri Matisse, Jean-Michel Basquait, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
Art and artifacts in a luxury setting
The exhibit at Wynn Al Marjan Island won’t be limited to paintings. It will also include a 17th century tapestry, a quartet of rare 18th century Buccleuch vases and a Victorian-era cut-glass console. The highlight of the collection may be the partial skull of a triceratops, said to be 66 million years old.
“Wynn Al Marjan Island’s approach to art goes far beyond acquisition,” said Todd-Avery Lenahan, president of Wynn Design & Development. ”Beauty is a universal language. And by integrating art into the fabric of the resort, Wynn invites guests to discover these pieces in an informal yet engaging and meaningful way.”
In-room art will feature works by contemporary artists from the region, including Algerian artist Faiza Maghni. As Lenehan told The National News, “Every artwork carries intention, nothing is gratuitous and nothing is placed for decoration alone. Every piece of art across the resort, whether in a room or within a public space, has been commissioned specifically for its place in the resort.
“We are not only collectors; we are patrons. A resort of this calibre is a home for both established masters and tomorrow’s names.”
Targeting high-value fly-in patrons
The $5.1 billion IR will target locals, fly-in customers and VIPs who already patronise Wynn properties in Las Vegas and Macau.
In a March interview with CNBC, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings called Al Marjan “the best development project in the industry”. Analysts predict gaming revenue “in the $5 billion to $8 billion range”, he said. “To put that in perspective, the Las Vegas Strip is a little more than $6 billion. So that’s a substantial market opportunity.”
The catchment area “is probably larger than any other project that we’ve done, maybe akin to Vegas”, according to Billings. “Europe is an important market for the UAE in general. But there’s a lot of wealth in India, and that’s going to be an important market. There are other parts of Asia that are big markets for the UAE as well. So it’s an exciting project.” The resort is ideally located, less than an hour from Dubai International Airport.
In addition to the UAE’s first casino, Wynn Al Marjan Island will offer some 1,200 rooms, 297 suites, 10 marina estates and two “royal apartments”, among other accommodations. The Ras Al Khaimah complex will also have 22 restaurants, a private beach on the Arabian Gulf, 12 pools and a deep-water marina designed for superyachts.
Topping-out ceremony overdue
In a recent update, Wynn said construction of the 70-storey tower is nearing completion and progress on the exterior is “advancing at pace”. More than 19,000 of 26,000 interior facade panels have been installed.
“Across the resort’s low-rise structures, the combined concrete and steel works are now 97% complete,” Wynn stated. “Exterior façades, interior fit-out and the installation of elevators and escalators are all progressing steadily.” However, a topping-out ceremony that was expected in late November has yet to take place.
Wynn Al Marjan Island will showcase a gallery of world-class art when the $5.1 billion IR opens in 2027.