Wynn Al Marjan Island Opening in September 2027: What It Means for Ras Al Khaimah Property

On 4 August 2026, Wynn Resorts told investors the resort is expected to open to guests in September 2027, a few months later than the spring 2027 date it had pointed to earlier in the year.

The short answer: Wynn Al Marjan Island is a 1,530-key integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. It is being built by a joint venture of Wynn Resorts (40%), Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, and holds the first commercial gaming facility licence issued by the UAE's federal gaming regulator. Its opening is likely to bring more visitors, jobs and investor attention to the island. Property prices and rental income will still depend on supply, timing and how each project is run, so the opening does not guarantee returns.

Below: the confirmed resort facts, the island's residential projects, recent Ras Al Khaimah real estate data, a comparison with Dubai, and what to check before buying off-plan property in Ras Al Khaimah.

Key takeaways

• Opening date: Wynn Resorts expects the resort to open in September 2027. In February 2026 the target was spring 2027, and in May the company flagged a "modest delay" linked to regional disruption.

• Cost: The budget was about $5.1 billion. In August 2026 Wynn added roughly $600 million, taking reported total costs to about $5.7 billion.

• Scale: The resort has 1,530 rooms, suites and residences, 22 restaurants, bars and lounges, a theatre, a marina and a private beach.

• Licence: In October 2024 the GCGRA issued the resort's joint venture the UAE's first commercial gaming facility operator licence.

• Tourism: Ras Al Khaimah received a record 1.35 million overnight visitors in 2025. Its target is more than 3.5 million by 2030.

• Prices: CBRE reported Al Marjan Island apartment values up 23.1% year on year in H1 2026. Cavendish Maxwell recorded emirate-wide growth in the mid-single digits and small dips over the most recent three months.

• Supply: CBRE expects more than 34,000 residential units in Ras Al Khaimah between 2026 and 2030, around 10,000 of them branded. Compare projects carefully.

• Process: Ready sales are registered with RAK Municipality's Lands and Properties Sector. The buyer and seller each pay 2% of market value. Off-plan projects need a permit and an escrow account from the emirate's Real Estate Regulation Authority.

Wynn Al Marjan at a glance: the confirmed facts

Outdated budgets and dates still circulate online. The table uses the latest figures from Wynn Resorts, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and regional press.

Who is building it

Wynn Al Marjan Island is not a Wynn-only project. Affiliates of Wynn Resorts hold the licence jointly with Marjan, the emirate's master developer for freehold projects, and RAK Hospitality Holding. Wynn owns 40% of the joint venture and its partners in Ras Al Khaimah own the rest. By the end of June 2026, Wynn had put in $1.06 billion in cash. Wynn Design & Development designed the resort, which sits alongside a portfolio that includes Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Boston Harbor and the group's two Macau resorts.

The same partners are also building more on the island. In July 2026 Marjan and Wynn Resorts broke ground on Janu Al Marjan Island, a hotel and branded-residence project with Aman Group's Janu brand. It sits next to the Wynn resort and is scheduled to open in 2029.

How the Wynn Al Marjan Island opening date moved

Searches for the "Wynn Al Marjan Island opening date" have risen through 2026, mostly because the date kept changing. Here is how the target has moved, based on what each source reported at the time:

Wynn's chief executive, Craig Billings, told investors that roughly half of the $600 million increase came directly from disruption linked to the regional conflict. That covered higher material and shipping costs, plus pre-opening costs and capitalised interest from the longer schedule. The remainder came from remeasurement, trade coordination and other project costs. Some materials and equipment had to be sourced elsewhere, rerouted or rushed through, and the movement of staff and consultants was also disrupted.

For property buyers, the takeaway is simple. September 2027 is the operator's current target, not a contractual date. Any project marketed on the basis of "opening next to Wynn" is relying on a schedule that has already moved once.

What the resort includes

According to Arabian Business, which reported the latest figures from Wynn and its partners, the 1,530 keys include 297 Enclave suites, two Royal Apartments, four Garden Townhomes and ten Marina Estates. The resort will have 12 swimming pools, a 900-seat theatre, a meetings and events centre of about 145,000 sq ft, a spa, a beach club, a superyacht marina, a luxury retail promenade of about 15,000 square metres and 420 metres of private beach. The official website describes the main tower as 70 storeys and 352 metres tall including its spire. It also mentions an Enclave "hotel within the hotel" on the upper floors and a theatre production created with Punchdrunk.

Construction updates in early 2026 reported that concrete was complete up to the roof of the 71st floor, more than 80% of façade panels were installed, and structural works on all 1,530 guest units were finished. Interior fit-out was under way. In August 2026, Wynn said construction was "progressing at a rapid pace".

The gaming licence: why the GCGRA matters

The UAE set up the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) as a federal body in September 2023. Its job is to coordinate regulation and manage licensing for commercial gaming and the national lottery across the country. Kevin Mullally, a former head of the Missouri Gaming Commission, was named its first chief executive, and former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren became chairman.

In October 2024 Wynn announced that the GCGRA had granted a Commercial Gaming Facility Operator licence to the joint venture developing the resort. Wynn described it as the first such licence in the UAE. Authorities and the operator have consistently called the project an "integrated resort" rather than a casino. Gaming is one part of a larger hotel, entertainment, events and retail complex.

The licence matters to the property market for three reasons:

• It is a first-mover position. As the first licensed venue, Wynn Al Marjan Island has drawn international attention to Ras Al Khaimah. Coverage of the island, its developers and its branded residences has risen with it.

• It shifts the visitor mix. Integrated resorts usually attract conventions, events and high-spending visitors alongside leisure guests. That can support hotel, food and drink, and retail demand around the resort.

• It comes with regulation. A federally licensed operator works under strict compliance rules. Buyers should not assume gaming will spread to other properties on the island. Each licence is a separate regulatory decision.

Tourism and infrastructure around the resort

Ras Al Khaimah tourism numbers and the 2030 target

RAKTDA reported a record 1.35 million overnight visitors in 2025, up 6% on 2024, with tourism revenue up 12% and revenue from meetings, events and weddings up 25%. India, China, the UK, Russia and several Central and Eastern European markets grew strongly. The emirate's stated target is more than 3.5 million visitors by 2030, together with doubling its hotel keys.

That target is ambitious. Reaching it would mean more than two and a half times the 2025 visitor numbers in five years. Wynn is central to the plan, but it is not the whole of it. In 2025 RAKTDA announced hotels under the Janu, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Taj and NH Collection brands, and Rove and SO/ properties opened during the year.

2026 has been softer. CBRE data reported in September 2026 showed 670,400 hotel visitors in the first half, up 2.7% year on year. Occupancy averaged 49%, and revenue per available room fell 28.6% to AED 348 even as average daily rates rose. A period of regional tension helps explain the weaker trading. It is also a reminder that tourism demand can change quickly.

Wynn Bridge and road access

Access to the island is improving. The Wynn Bridge, a 548-metre crossing, links the resort via Marjan Avenue to the E311 and E611 highways, which form the main corridor between Dubai and the Northern Emirates. In February 2026, Wynn reported the bridge was 48% complete, with piling finished, and on schedule for completion in late 2026. The resort's own website puts it about 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and less than 50 miles from Dubai International Airport. Actual drive times will depend on traffic and the route.

Hotel pipeline and staff housing

CBRE counts about 9,000 hotel rooms operating across 60 hotels in Ras Al Khaimah, with about 8,500 more planned between 2027 and 2030. More than 80% of the planned rooms are five-star, and nearly two-thirds are expected on Al Marjan Island. That makes the island the centre of the emirate's hospitality growth. It also means more competition for guests, including short-stay visitors who might otherwise book privately owned holiday homes.

Employment is another driver. RAKTDA says the resort is expected to create more than 9,000 jobs. Wynn's staff community, Oasis, was designed for more than 7,000 employees in 15 residential communities about 15 minutes' drive from the resort. Because a large share of resort staff will live in purpose-built housing, the extra demand for ordinary rental homes will be smaller than the headline job number suggests. Mid-level and senior staff, contractors and supplier businesses are more likely to rent in the open market.

Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, explained

The four islands and the masterplan

Al Marjan Island is a reclaimed archipelago of four islands: Breeze, Treasure, Dream and View. Breeze connects to the mainland, and the other three extend into the Arabian Gulf. Work started in 2004, and the development covers more than 2.7 million square metres. The project added about 23 km of waterfront. In 2024 Marjan's CEO described plans for 12,000 residential units and 15,000 hotel keys on the island and said land on the island was already sold out.

Marjan was set up in 2018 as the independent entity leading freehold development in Ras Al Khaimah, and it took over Al Marjan Island and its real estate assets. Several hotels already operate on the island, including Rixos Bab Al Bahr, DoubleTree by Hilton, Mövenpick, Hampton, Pullman and Radisson.

Residential projects and developers active on the island

Most new residential supply on Al Marjan Island is branded and sold off-plan. The table lists projects that have been confirmed in reputable press or official releases. Handover dates are the developer's own targets as reported at launch, and some may have changed since, so check each one directly.

Two things stand out. First, nearly every scheme carries a brand name, whether a hotel group, a fashion house or a car marque. Gulf News, citing CBRE, reported that average branded-residence prices in Ras Al Khaimah rose 39% year on year in Q1 2025, and that branded homes are expected to make up a quarter of upcoming supply by 2030. Second, many projects are scheduled to hand over between 2027 and 2029, around the time the resort opens and shortly after. A large number of similar homes could therefore reach the resale and rental markets at the same time.

Luxora's coverage of the UAE's major developers and their track records can help when you compare a newer brand-led developer on the island with established master developers elsewhere.

Marjan Beach and the next phase

Marjan's next large step is Marjan Beach, a mixed-use beachfront masterplan unveiled in 2025. RAKTDA put it at 85 million sq ft, with plans for 12,000 hotel keys and 22,000 residential units. In September 2026 Marjan's CEO said the full programme would take about ten years. The first phase of earthworks was due to finish within two months, and Wasl, Omniyat and Beyond had secured plots. Wynn's bridge is designed to serve these planned beach districts as well as the resort.

For long-term buyers, this signals continued growth, but also a decade of construction and new supply nearby.

Ras Al Khaimah real estate: what the data shows

Sales and transaction volumes

The Ras Al Khaimah market is much smaller than Dubai's. According to Cavendish Maxwell, about 6,600 residential transactions worth Dh12.4 billion took place in 2025. That was 17.4% fewer deals than in 2024 and 24.7% less by value, mostly because there were fewer off-plan launches and investors became more selective. Off-plan accounted for about 85% of activity. ValuStrat's figures for Q4 2025 show a similar picture: off-plan made up 88% of residential transactions in that quarter.

Ready-home sales are a small but growing segment. Freehold ready residential transactions reached Dh625.2 million in H1 2026, slightly down on a year earlier but up 24% on H2 2025.

Prices and rents

Price data depends heavily on who is measuring and how:

• ValuStrat (Q4 2025): emirate-wide residential capital values up 12.7% year on year. Al Marjan Island apartments rose 17.2%, the fastest of the sub-markets tracked. Gross yields averaged 5.3% for apartments and 5.1% for villas.

• CBRE (H1 2026): apartment sale prices up about 18% year on year to AED 2,298 per sq ft, and Al Marjan Island apartment values up 23.1% year on year. Apartment rents rose 14.3%.

• Cavendish Maxwell (H1 2026): apartment prices up 6.5% and villa prices up almost 6% year on year, with apartment rents up more than 7% and villa rents up 8%. Over the latest three months, apartment and villa prices dipped slightly and apartment rents fell 1.4%.

Read together, these show strong growth in 2025, with Al Marjan Island leading. In 2026 the emirate-wide picture has been more mixed, and the most recent quarter has been flat to slightly lower. CBRE's average per square foot is probably weighted towards new branded stock, so it should not be used to value an older apartment elsewhere in the emirate.

Ras Al Khaimah has also recorded some very large deals. CBRE noted a $35.4 million sale at Waldorf Astoria Residences, the highest residential sale on record in the emirate, and a $34.7 million Sky Mansion at Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences. Deals like these pull up headline averages and say little about typical prices.

Supply pipeline

Supply is where buyers should be most careful. Cavendish Maxwell estimates about 2,200 homes completing in 2026, 4,700 in 2027 and 7,500 in 2028. CBRE counts more than 34,000 residential units due between 2026 and 2030, around 10,000 of them branded. Annual deliveries in 2025 were only about 1,200 units, so the expected step-up is large compared with the existing stock.

Ras Al Khaimah vs Dubai for property buyers

Most international buyers looking at Al Marjan Island are also looking at Dubai. The two markets differ in size, liquidity, rules and costs. The comparison below uses the latest data available to us. Methods differ between consultancies, so treat price figures as indicative, not a like-for-like comparison.

Some practical points follow from this. Dubai's market is far deeper. That generally means more comparable sales to value against, more resale buyers and more tenants. Ras Al Khaimah offers lower transfer costs for the buyer and a more concentrated growth story, and it can feel quieter and less crowded. The other side of that concentration is that a smaller buyer pool can make resale slower, especially if many similar branded units hand over around the same time.

If you are weighing the island against Dubai's established waterfront, compare it with Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's best-known island community, where years of resale and rental history make values easier to judge. For a wider Dubai benchmark, Luxora's Q3 2026 analysis of Dubai prices, sales and supply covers the latest numbers. You can also browse ready and off-plan homes for sale in Dubai to see what similar budgets buy there.

Investor considerations and risks

The Wynn story is easy to oversell. Here are the issues serious buyers usually look at before committing.

Timing: the resort is not the market

A September 2027 opening is the current target. Even if the date holds, a new resort usually takes time to reach normal trading levels. Much of the expectation around Wynn is already reflected in Al Marjan Island prices, which outpaced the rest of the emirate in 2025 and early 2026. A buyer paying today's launch prices is betting on growth beyond what is already priced in. That can happen, but it is not automatic.

Supply and the branded-residence wave

In a small market, the number of new branded homes is the main risk. Several Al Marjan Island projects are scheduled to hand over between late 2027 and 2029, and more launches are planned around Marjan Beach. When similar units complete together, resale prices and rents can come under pressure while investors compete for the same tenants and buyers. Before you choose a unit, check:

• how many units the building and the surrounding plots will add

• whether the brand runs the building or only licenses its name

• service charges and how they are set and audited

• what makes the unit different, such as direct beach access, views, layout or a higher floor

Short-term rental rules

Many buyers plan to let their unit as a holiday home once the resort opens. In Ras Al Khaimah, holiday homes are regulated by RAKTDA through the RAK Holiday Homes system, which handles registration, inspection and classification into standard or luxury categories. As reported in 2024, owners need a developer NOC where the unit sits within a developer-managed area. Permit fees ran from Dh300 for a one-bedroom unit to Dh1,200 for four or more bedrooms, plus registration and classification fees, renewed annually. Fees and conditions can change, so confirm the current rules with RAKTDA before you rely on holiday-let income.

Also check whether your building allows short-term letting at all. Some branded developments run rental pools or restrict private holiday letting. Find out who can operate it and what share of revenue the operator keeps. Hotel occupancy across the emirate averaged 49% in H1 2026. Resort-area income can vary a lot by season, and new hotel supply will compete for the same guests. For help weighing operator options, see Luxora's guide on how to choose a property management company in the UAE.

Off-plan risk and buyer protections

Most off-plan property in Ras Al Khaimah is bought years before handover. Decree No. 12 of 2023 tightened the rules. Developers must register with the Real Estate Regulation Authority (RERA), register each project, open an escrow account with sub-accounts for each unit, and get an Off-Plan Sale Permit before marketing or selling. Developers must also fund at least 20% of construction costs themselves, and withdrawals from escrow need RERA approval. These protections are real, but they do not remove the risk of delays, specification changes or slow resale before handover.

Payment plans also need care. A 40:60 plan, like the one advertised at Nasim Al Bahr, means a large balance falls due at completion. Make sure you can fund it, or that mortgage finance is realistic, before you sign. Luxora's mortgage calculator is a quick way to test different deposit and rate scenarios.

Speculation and liquidity

Rapid price growth tends to attract short-term buyers who plan to flip before handover. If enough of them try to sell at once, especially in a quieter period, prices on the secondary market can soften. The fall in Ras Al Khaimah's 2025 sales value as off-plan launches slowed shows how quickly activity can drop. Before you buy, check the developer's resale policy. Many require a minimum percentage paid before an assignment is allowed and charge a transfer fee.

Geopolitics and costs

The resort's own delay and budget increase came from regional disruption to shipping, insurance and supply chains. Cavendish Maxwell has also flagged geopolitical tension as a risk to investor sentiment and inbound demand. These factors are outside any developer's control. They can affect construction costs, handover dates and tourism numbers across the whole island.

The case for buying should rest on the specific unit, price, developer and exit plan, not only on the Wynn headline. This article is general information, not financial advice. Verify details with the developer, the relevant Ras Al Khaimah authorities and qualified legal and financial advisers.

Buying property in Ras Al Khaimah: a practical checklist

The steps below cover the main checks for ready and off-plan purchases. Procedures can be updated, so confirm current requirements with the authority before you transfer any money.

1. Confirm freehold eligibility for the plot. Non-UAE nationals may own property in designated freehold areas. Al Marjan Island is developed by Marjan, the emirate's freehold master developer, but confirm the exact plot and building with the developer and RAK Municipality's Lands and Properties Sector.

2. Check the developer and the project with RERA. For off-plan purchases, ask for the project's registration details, Off-Plan Sale Permit and escrow account information. The sales contract and reservation form should be the RERA-approved versions.

3. Pay into escrow only. Instalments should go into the project's escrow account, not to a sales agent or a personal account.

4. Read the sales and purchase agreement closely. Look at the handover date and any grace period, compensation for delay, specification and finishes, permitted variations, service charge estimates, resale and assignment rules, and any rental pool or short-term letting restrictions.

5. Budget for transfer costs. For a ready sale registered with RAK Municipality, the buyer and seller each pay 2% of the property's market value, plus smaller fees for documents such as the title deed. Ask the developer which fees apply to off-plan registration on its project.

6. Prepare the documents. For a ready transfer, RAK Municipality lists Emirates ID for both parties, the original title deed, a developer NOC for freehold sales, a power of attorney where a representative signs, and company documents where relevant. The service is processed at its Customer Happiness Center, and the title deed is issued in about three working days.

7. Arrange finance early. If you need a mortgage, get pre-approval from a UAE bank and confirm it will lend on the specific project and on the payment schedule.

8. Check residency eligibility if it matters to you. RAKEZ lists a 10-year golden visa route for property investors with a minimum value of AED 2 million, and off-plan property can qualify with a developer-stamped agreement. Confirm the latest criteria with the federal residency authority before you rely on it.

9. Plan the rental strategy. Decide between long-term letting, holiday letting through a RAKTDA-registered operator, or personal use, and price in service charges, furnishing, management and vacancy.

10. Get independent advice. Use a UAE-qualified lawyer for contract review, and get tax advice in your home country on rental income and capital gains.

Buyers who are new to UAE property may also find the steps in Luxora's step-by-step guide for foreign investors useful. The Dubai specifics differ, but the logic of due diligence is much the same.

What to do next

Wynn Al Marjan Island is likely to shape Ras Al Khaimah's property market for years. For buyers, the opening is a reason to research the island carefully, not a reason to hurry. Start by narrowing down which projects fit your budget, timing and plans for using or letting the property. Then compare them on developer track record, handover date, supply around the building and total cost of ownership.

If you want to compare Al Marjan Island with established options in Dubai, browse Luxora's current off-plan launches or see all projects listed on Luxora, read the Dubai real estate investment guide, or speak with a Luxora property adviser for a balanced comparison of payment plans, costs and likely rental demand.