Move over Dubai: Wynn is betting big on this up-and-coming emirate
You've heard of Dubai, full of towering skyscrapers and human-made mega-islands, and Abu Dhabi, with its picturesque Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an outpost of the Louvre and even a Warner Bros. hotel at the world's largest indoor theme park.
But you might not have heard of Ras Al Khaimah, a lesser-known emirate that's quickly becoming a hot spot for global travelers, adventure seekers and world-class resorts, including one just announced from a big name out of Las Vegas.
Wynn Resorts, the company behind Wynn Las Vegas and other casinos in Boston and China, announced it's planning to build a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah. Set to open in 2026, the integrated resort — which usually means it's a hotel and casino with other entertainment elements; essentially the majority of resorts in Las Vegas — will have over 1,000 rooms, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention center, a spa, stores, multiple entertainment venues and a gaming area, the company said in a statement.
The new resort will be built on an "exclusive" section of Al Marjan Island, a series of artificial islands much like Dubai's The Palm. The island will give the new Wynn resort, the company's first on a beach, "a pristine setting with spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf as well as sandy beaches and a marina."
Alongside Wynn's announcement to build the resort and apply for an integrated resort license from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the government agency announced it is forming an entirely new division to oversee the regulation of integrated resorts.
"The foremost priority of this new division is to create a robust framework that will ensure responsible gaming at all levels," the Tourism Development Authority said in a statement.
Currently, gambling is not allowed in the United Arab Emirates, but Wynn's new "gaming area," along with the Tourism Development Authority's announcement, is causing speculation that this project could potentially usher in a new era of legalized gambling for the emirate. That said, neither Wynn Resorts nor the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has explicitly said that "gaming" at the new resort will include gambling.
Wynn isn't the first Las Vegas company to enter the UAE. In 2018, Las Vegas-based Caesars entered the emirates with Caesars Palace at Bluewaters Dubai, a nongaming, beachfront resort. MGM Resorts International is currently in construction on three nongaming resorts — MGM Grand, Bellagio and Aria — on Dubai's The Island.
Related: How to get to (and stay in) Dubai using points and miles
Back in Ras Al Khaimah, one of TPG's 12 hottest destinations of 2022, a handful of new projects, in addition to the Wynn, are helping put the emirate on the map. Set to open in the first quarter of this year, the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa will bring 351 new rooms, suites and villas, along with a handful of upscale restaurants, to the area. And later this year, the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah will open as a Maldivian-style resort with overwater villas, Asian restaurants and a spa.
Outside of the booming resort scene, visitors to Ras Al Khaimah can also find plenty of adventurous activities, including zip lining 1.76 miles down the UAE's tallest peak on the world's longest zip line, taking dune buggies out in the desert and attempting an elevated ropes course high up in the mountains.
If you can't wait for the Wynn to open in 2026 and want to visit Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's northernmost emirate, there are a handful of great resorts and hotels where you can visit on points. Hilton Honors members can cash in 80,000 points for a standard room at the behemoth Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah or find rooms as low as 36,000 points at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort.
For a retreat away from the beach, Marriott Bonvoy members can find a desert oasis at the Category 7 Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, which has rooms between 50,000 and 70,000 points based on peak and off-peak pricing.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.