Wynn Resorts’ multi-billion-dollar Al Marjan Island development in Ras Al Khaimah is one of the most exciting developments in the Middle East.
The resort’s operators announced that it will include a dedicated poker room, news that generated significant headlines worldwide.
With its planned 1,000-foot tower set to rank among the tallest buildings in the world and a fully integrated gaming offering, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is moving towards an exciting new frontier.
The addition of poker to the line-up is a strategic entry point into the gaming market. Poker is a social, skill-based game that is popular with international tourists.
Land-based Poker as a Launchpad for Online Growth
One of the most important lessons the UAE can learn from mature markets such as New Jersey and Las Vegas is that they do not compete with the online sector, but feed it.
New Jersey has regulated online poker since 2013, with the market generating over $21 billion in total revenue to date. They registered a record $6.98bn in total gaming revenue in 2025.
Online casinos accounted for $2.1bn of the total. The UAE can learn from the American state how live events lead to a surge in online gaming.
During major tournament series, online platforms usually experience an increase in traffic and revenue, with players eager to relive the exciting action. This interplay is important.
Live poker is basically an onboarding funnel that introduces new players to the game in a social environment. Online poker acts as a training ground for them to develop their skill.
That dynamic is important in the UAE, where Wynn can capitalise on growing interest in poker amongst residents and tourists.
Many people already visit comparison platforms such as haztayeb1-uae.com/en/ to find the best online casinos in the UAE. They want to enjoy playing exciting poker games.
The UAE’s first licensed iGaming platform is live, and numbers from the US suggest that even a small online ecosystem will generate tens of millions of dollars annually once they establish a player base.
Technology Will Amplify the Spillover
With near-nationwide internet penetration and a solid digital payments infrastructure, the UAE can build a bridge between live and virtual poker.
Integrated player ecosystems that record everything from a player’s live tournament history to loyalty rewards and digital wallets are already popular in the US.
Artificial intelligence (AI), real-time analytics and a mobile-first design can help improve these systems in the UAE.
A player who performs well at a live tournament at Wynn could receive invitations to online events where their performance will be tracked across different formats.
There is also room for content innovation. Poker is a spectator product with live-stream tables, hole-card cameras and real-time data overlays working together to turn games into global entertainment.
The UAE can tap into this poker hub and broadcast events to international audiences, transforming Ras Al Khaimah into an entertainment powerhouse.
A Shift in the Global Poker Landscape
Live poker is heavily concentrated in Las Vegas, Macau and parts of Europe. However, the Middle East has started producing some equally talented players, but access to games is limited.
Travel costs, visa logistics and distance from major tournament hubs are also major issues that have restricted participation. Ras Al Khaimah will change everything.
A poker room in Ras Al Khaimah, where local players can easily go and improve their craft, lowers the barrier to entry for players across the entire Middle Eastern region.
Players who may have never picked up poker professionally now have access to a world-class facility. The importance of this access cannot be understated.
In markets where poker is visible and available, the number of serious players increases, and the online ecosystem players play a key role, allowing young players to hone their skills at elite levels.
Consequently, there could be a new wave of Middle Eastern players entering the global circuit over the next decade.
There are many other upsides to poker in the UAE besides bolstering national revenue. Poker tournaments are sticky events that encourage longer stays, repeat visits and media attention.
A well-executed tournament series at Wynn Al Marjan would attract tens of thousands of fans, players and spectators, boosting tourism revenue.
Long-term, the value in building the ecosystem is astronomical. A thriving poker scene will support adjacent industries such as coaching platforms, analytics and eSports-style competitions.
The emergence of poker in the UAE also falls in line with the broader plans to establish the Middle Eastern nation as an innovation and digital entertainment centre.
