$5.1 billion Al Marjan Island resort in the UAE may be delayed, Wynn Resorts said. The company warned that brief work stoppages, staff evacuations and shipping disruptions tied to recent regional attacks could push back the 2027 opening. Construction resumed after a pause on Feb. 28, but nearby areas have seen drone and missile strikes, and debris from an intercepted drone fell about 15 kilometers from the site on March 2. Some design and development team members relocated on embassy advice, and Wynn says it's coordinating with U.S. And Ras Al Khaimah officials as it monitors the timetable.

Wynn Resorts is reassessing the timeline for its Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah. The project carries a roughly $5.1 billion price tag and is set to include the Gulf's first licensed casino.

Work paused at the end of February. The company told investors and regulators it has since restarted on-site construction.

Who left and why

Some members of Wynn's design and development team were evacuated after attacks struck parts of the UAE. Jacqui Krum, executive vice president, general counsel and manager for Wynn, told Nevada gaming commissioners, "Some of them have relocated to different places based on the advice of their embassies." She added, "The construction site is still ongoing right now, and we're dedicated to the safety and security of the team members who are working on the construction site."

Wynn CEO Craig Billings told investors that only about 7 to 8 percent of the team overseeing the project returned to their home countries after the attacks. Most staff remained in the region, the company said.

Security and supply-chain pressure

The pause came as the UAE faced repeated aerial assaults tied to strikes on Iran. Authorities in the emirates have reported hundreds of drones and missiles launched toward the country.

Mastheads

Air defenses intercepted many of the weapons, but debris did fall in populated areas.

On March 2, debris from an intercepted drone landed in Al Hamra Village in Ras Al Khaimah, about 15 kilometers from the Wynn site. Local authorities said no injuries were reported.

Wynn executives warned that the regional conflict has disrupted shipping in parts of the area. That has forced the company to consider routing materials through alternative ports if needed. The company said it remains in regular contact with U.S. And Ras Al Khaimah officials to assess any impacts.

Project scale and stakes

The resort will feature a 224,000-square-foot gaming floor, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues. Wynn has previously told investors the development could generate as much as $1.66 billion in annual gross gaming revenue once operational.

About 18,000 workers are employed on the wider development in Ras Al Khaimah, according to company and local briefings. The opening has been targeted for 2027, a date Wynn now says it may need to revisit if the conflict drags on or shipping bottlenecks worsen.

Regulatory and local context

Wynn discussed the project status during a Nevada Gaming Commission licensing hearing. Commissioners pressed the company on safety and timing after learning some team members had left the UAE. The commission approved licensing for Jacqui Krum at that hearing.

Ras Al Khaimah has made the resort a central element of its tourism plan. Local officials have emphasized defense measures and said the country's air defenses have been active in intercepting incoming threats.

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Wynn said it will keep coordinating with U.S. And Ras Al Khaimah officials while assessing whether the 2027 opening needs to be revised.

This article was created with AI assistance.