#Dubai has no current plans to allow 'gaming', official says | Reuters

Dubai has no current plans to allow 'gaming', official says | Reuters

Dubai has no current plans to allow gaming, an official said on Wednesday, as a neighbouring emirate gears up to welcome a resort to be built by a U.S. casino operator and plans to license the activity - a first for the region.

An announcement in January by Ras Al Khaimah, one of the United Arab Emirates' seven emirates, that it would regulate gaming ahead of the arrival of Las Vegas casino giant Wynn Resorts (WYNN.O) in 2026, has revived speculation that gambling could be allowed in Dubai, where a Caesars Palace opened in 2018.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is no gaming that's coming around the corner for us," said Dubai senior tourism official Issam Kazim.

Dubai is the only one of U.S. giant Caesars Entertainment' resorts globally without a casino and a luxury resort by Las Vegas gambling stalwart MGM Resorts International is being built on an artificial island about 10 km away.