MGM Resorts International has officially submitted a casino license application in Abu Dhabi. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

As casinos are coming to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), companies in the industry are lining up to get in on the action. MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle revealed while speaking at the 2024 Skift Global Forum that the company submitted an official application to the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) after the window for license bids began in July.

Numerous steps make up this process, including a preliminary screening and a more comprehensive vetting process.

MGM is no stranger to entering new markets, as it is the only casino company developing an integrated resort in Japan, and it has a former colleague leading up the UAE regulatory effort in the form of its previous CEO, Jim Murren, although he won’t be part of the selection committee.

Each emirate in the UAE will decide for itself if it wants a casino or not.

The company is eyeing a potential Abu Dhabi casino, and Hornbuckle acknowledged the “cultural barrier to get through” before getting too far down the road. Each emirate in the UAE will decide for itself if it wants a casino or not.

Wynn Resorts is the other major casino company eyeing a gambling project in the region. It is in the process of developing a $3.9bn resort in Ras Al Khaimah. While the original intent was for this to be a non-gaming property, it will have sufficient space for a gaming floor if it ultimately obtains a license.