Wynn Resorts reveals name and design vision of $3.9bn RAK hospitality project
The project is expected to welcome visitors in 2027; foundation works onsite began earlier this year
Wynn Resorts has unveiled the name and design vision of its $3.9bn integrated resort project in Ras Al Khaimah. Wynn Al Marjan Island will be the company’s first beachfront resort and is said to be inspired by the ‘tranquil seascape of Al Marjan Island’.
According to the firm, the resort is being developed with local partners Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding and expects the project to transform and accelerate the emirate’s rise as a major global tourist destination, while also creating substantial value to its economy through tourism and job creation. The project will pave the way for the accelerated growth of allied business sectors.
“We have spent the past year meticulously programming and concepting Wynn Al Marjan Island, carefully considering its unique location. I’m incredibly proud of our design and development team’s ability to impart our legacy of rich, thoughtful design into a sun-soaked beachside resort that will delight customers, new and old. We look forward to opening Wynn Al Marjan Island in early 2027,” said Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts.
Overlooking the waters of the Arabian Gulf, Wynn Al Marjan Island rises more than 305m above sea level, and will welcome visitors to a premium luxury experience, including significant entertainment and gaming amenities.
In late September 2022, it was announced that Al Marjan Island would host a new 1,000 room luxury resort and, in early November 2022, RAK Properties said it tracked buoyant results in Q3 of 2022.
For its first project in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, the US-listed developer and luxury resort operator will create a serene and stylish setting that takes inspiration from the stunning sea views and brings the warm, relaxed ocean setting into its modern world-class hotel, a statement from the firm explained.
The brand’s signature, high-design opulence will be reflected in its approximately 1,500 lavishly styled rooms, suites and villas. Visitors can look forward to a wide array of entertainment options, a gaming area, 24 dining and lounge experiences, innovative spa and wellness experiences, a high-end shopping esplanade, a state-of-the-art events center, a theater hosting a unique production show, and other amenities. Designed for both longer visits and day trips from neighboring Emirates, the resort will offer abundant and layered experiences including nightly state-of-the-art laser and light shows, it added.
The design of Wynn Al Marjan Island is said to have taken inspiration from the natural landscape surrounding the resort and the design aesthetic of Wynn Resorts. The same geometric configuration of the curved shape of the beach on the island is echoed through the podium structure, similar to a great opera house, creating majestic views of the beach, sea and the horizon. Every diner in the abundant restaurant offerings lining the beach-facing promenade at Wynn Al Marjan Island will enjoy sweeping views of the sea, the firm added.
The new resort on Al Marjan Island, a flagship development of Marjan, will highlight Ras Al Khaimah’s growing global reputation as a leading investment destination for high-quality hospitality projects. With a rapidly growing portfolio of luxury five-star hotels and residential developments that offer a wide range of amenities and services and boasting over 7.8km of beaches and 23km of waterfront, Al Marjan Island is today seamlessly transitioning into a world-class resort destination, the firm concluded.
In late March 2023, ALEC and Bauer International were announced as key contractors for the Wynn Resort project.
