The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is prioritizing a framework that enables "confident decision-making, operational discipline, and sustainable growth," according to Chief Financial Officer Leina El-Barasi.
As a newly established body, El-Barasi emphasized the necessity of designing financial and procurement systems capable of scaling alongside the UAE's emerging gaming sector.
El-Barasi highlighted the GCGRA's commitment to being a financially strong, digitally enabled institution that upholds high governance standards to support a trusted regulatory ecosystem. Since joining in 2023 from previous roles at Abu Dhabi Media Company and Ernst & Young, she has played a pivotal role in strategic forecasting and stakeholder communication.
The UAE is preparing for the 2027 launch of Wynn Al Marjan Island, its first integrated resort with a casino. In anticipation, the GCGRA has been strengthening its leadership with global industry veterans, including the recent appointment of former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren as interim CEO. These moves underscore the regulator's focus on maintaining integrity as it oversees this major economic expansion.
