In Q1 2027, a $5.1 billion resort opens on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. It will be the first regulated casino in the UAE — and the first serious new gaming jurisdiction to open in over a decade.
If you play at a meaningful level, you already know this. What you probably do not know is the detail behind it — the kind of detail that determines whether your first UAE trip costs you three productive days of setup, or whether you walk in on day one ready to play.
This article covers everything. No filler.
The floor
The main casino floor covers 20,900 square metres — larger than the equivalent in Las Vegas. Table games, poker and slots across the ground level.
The resort itself is 70 storeys, 1,542 hotel rooms and 22 private villas. There is a marina capable of handling superyachts up to 85 metres, a private beach and twelve pools. This is not a casino with a hotel attached — it is a destination that happens to have a casino inside it.
Getting there
Al Marjan Island sits in Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the UAE. 55 minutes from Dubai International Airport by road — the most likely entry point for most international players. RAK International Airport is 20 minutes away and handles direct flights from several European cities.
There are no border controls between emirates. Once you land in Dubai, you drive north on the E11 highway. Straightforward.
The visa — what you actually need
If you hold a passport from the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia or Japan — you do not need a visa. Up to 90 days as a tourist, no advance process. You land, clear immigration, go.
Other nationalities need either a visa on arrival or a pre-arranged tourist visa. Typically 5–10 working days through a licensed UAE agency, $150–300 depending on nationality.
The more interesting conversation — the one most players are not having yet — is the Golden Visa.
The Golden Visa provides 2–10 year UAE residency. You do not need to live there full time. You need a local address, a bank account, and a minimum number of days in country per year. For a player spending 2–3 months a year at the table in RAK, the residency question is not exotic. It is straightforward arithmetic.
We will cover the Golden Visa in full in a dedicated article. If this is immediately relevant to your situation, email us directly and we will connect you with a specialist.
Where to stay
On-property. The resort's Enclave Suites — 313 suites in the upper floors with a private entrance, private beach and private pool. If proximity to the floor is the priority and budget is not the constraint, this is the answer.
Al Marjan Island. Several hotels already operate on the island — Movenpick, Rixos and others. Walking distance to the resort, significantly lower rates, perfectly adequate for most purposes.
Villas and apartments. For longer stays, furnished properties in RAK offer considerably more space at considerably lower cost. Groups sharing a villa is likely to become the dominant model for serious visitors staying more than a week. Felt has negotiated group rates with partner properties — typically 15–20% below direct booking.
What is still unknown
Rake and tournament structures. Minimum buy-ins. Whether the resort will host regular tournament series or position itself primarily as a cash game destination. Player registration and identity verification requirements under the UAE regulatory framework.
We are tracking all of it. The Felt Brief exists precisely to answer these questions as they become available — before they reach the general press.
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