The emirates of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah have emerged as frontrunners to introduce casinos before their neighbor Dubai, after the glitzier city-state put any immediate plans to allow gambling on the backburner, according to people familiar with the matter.
After the United Arab Emirates set up a framework for legalized gaming in September, Abu Dhabi is mapping out what it would look like to open a casino, with Yas Island — home to the Ferrari World and Warner Bros. theme parks, as well as the Yas Marina Formula One Circuit — and a plot near the city’s port among the sites being considered, some of the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.
In Ras Al Khaimah, a northern emirate about a 45-minute drive from Dubai, Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts Ltd. has announced plans for a $3.9 billion integrated resort that’s due to open in 2027. In Dubai, meanwhile, senior government officials decided after months of discussions that gambling wasn’t a priority for the city because its tourism sector is already booming, some of the people said.
