Stepping into the Wynn Las Vegas is an experience for the senses. Psychedelic neon slot machines glitter, vying for attention with glitzy designer boutiques and the whimsical presence of Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel’s giant ‘Smiling King Bear’ sculpture. The opulent Las Vegas Strip buzzes with electric energy, where courage and the thrill of chance fill the air.
Far from the desert lights of Nevada, our journey takes us to an anticipated destination: Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. This upcoming luxury integrated resort, scheduled for a spring 2027 opening, promises a new era of extravagance.
As the first-of-its-kind gaming resort in the UAE, Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,530 luxurious rooms, an impressive collection of 22 restaurants, lounges, and bars, a state-of-the-art theater, a five-star spa, a lively nightclub, and a serene beach club overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Guests can also indulge in retail therapy at a 12,000 square meter shopping promenade adorned with high-end boutiques, alongside a dedicated celebration and event center.
Todd-Avery Lenahan, President and Chief Creative Officer of Wynn Design and Development, describes Wynn Al Marjan Island as a completely new design narrative. He refers to Wynn Las Vegas as a ‘tapestry,’ with other properties like Boston or Cotai being ‘quilts’ crafted from its original elements. “Wynn Al Marjan Island, however, is our company’s first new tapestry in over 20 years… it is a complete fresh start,” he explains, highlighting the significance of their venture into the Middle East.
Lenahan proudly calls this upcoming endeavor the company’s first true ‘destination resort,’ a departure from their previous urban resort projects. The new property will be conveniently located just 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport and a mere 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.
While Wynn and Encore Las Vegas thrive on a vibrant, open-corridor concept attracting a diverse crowd of guests, tourists, gamers, and shoppers, Wynn Al Marjan Island has been meticulously designed with zones of heightened exclusivity. This deliberate planning sets it apart, offering an experience distinct from its Vegas counterpart.
At the pinnacle of the resort’s impressive 300-meter tower lies “Enclave,” an exclusive retreat with 313 accommodations. Guests arriving at Enclave will enjoy a private, guarded entrance, leading to elegant lobby salons and a processional gallery that escorts them to dedicated private elevators.
“All guests aren’t coming for the same reasons, and we want to honor people on their terms,” Lenahan states. From dedicated luxury shopping experiences to a ‘Wynn Boulevard’ for residents with controlled access, and separate entrances for beach clubs and nightclubs, every detail has been considered. He emphasizes their creation of a dedicated departures lobby, ensuring “your arrival experience is always just one way. It’s always a welcome, never a goodbye.”
Stories Around Every Corner
At Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, every corner holds a narrative – be it a rare piece of art, a discovery of unique craftsmanship, or a tale of serendipitous connections. Guiding us through the royal suites, Lenahan points out exquisite pieces destined for the new Middle Eastern resort. He gestures to an ornate mirror, revealing, “This mirror was acquired by Anne and Gordon Getty from the French Heritage Collection because it was originally in the Louvre. We acquired it after Anne Getty passed away.” Even Jeff Koons’ iconic ‘Tulips’ sculpture, once housed in the Vegas property, will find a new home in Ras Al Khaimah. “We are always moving things around, like an art gallery. Things are in a constant state of change, which keeps it fresh and exciting,” he shares.
As evening falls, we enter Delilah, greeted by a retro theater-inspired entryway announcing ‘Dinner, Drinks and Entertainment.’ Lenahan’s philosophy is clear: “While many create spaces that we just move through, I would like to create spaces that move through you.” This modern-day supper club, drawing inspiration from Las Vegas’s early showrooms of the 1950s, will evoke the nostalgic glamor of Beirut in the 1940s and 50s at the new Ras Al Khaimah resort. The culinary offerings will also include a two-floor French-American steakhouse concept, envisioned by legendary chef Alain Ducasse.
Later, with a platter of desserts and a cocktail at Delilah, Vegas truly lives up to its reputation as a city that never sleeps. The Wynn casino pulses with activity, as guests flock to blackjack tables and slot machines.
“Even though less than 30% of our business comes from the casino, it has a 100% sort of presence in Vegas,” Lenahan remarks. “At Wynn Al Marjan Island, it will be there and available, yes, but it is for those who want to enjoy that kind of fun, and it is for you on your own terms. So when the resort opens, you will see the way we have handled it not just spatially, but psychologically as well.”
Indeed, what happens in Vegas is not staying in Vegas this time. It’s making its way, redefined and reimagined, to Ras Al Khaimah.