The planned opening of the United Arab Emirates' first casino resort, a venture by US-based Wynn Resorts, faces a modest delay, directly impacted by the ongoing Middle East war and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. This disruption highlights the vulnerability of global capital accumulation to geopolitical instability, particularly when seeking new markets for surplus extraction.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, acknowledged the challenges, stating, "While we have faced logistical and shipping challenges in the region, deliveries have largely continued and we are rerouting shipments and sourcing alternative materials where needed." He added that a "modest delay in our opening timeline" is expected, with quantification to follow in the coming months, though the opening is still projected for 2027.
Wynn, a US company, operates casinos in Las Vegas, Boston, and Macau, a Chinese territory. In October 2024, the group secured the first commercial gaming operator's license issued by the UAE, a state where gambling is currently prohibited under Islamic laws. This licensing demonstrates the state's role in facilitating capital's expansion, even in contradiction to established social norms, to attract foreign investment and generate revenue.
The luxury resort, Wynn Al Marjan Island, is under development in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates constituting the UAE. The 1,542-room resort, designed with gaming amenities, was initially scheduled to open in early 2027. Ras Al Khaimah is described as one of the UAE's less wealthy emirates, a quiet place popular for domestic holidays, and the northernmost emirate closest to the Strait of Hormuz.
Capital's Imperial Entanglements
The Strait of Hormuz is currently blockaded by Iran, a direct consequence of the regional conflict. Iran has targeted the UAE more than any other country during the war, striking US assets and civilian infrastructure. This imperialist conflict has impeded oil exports and port operations, creating the logistical and shipping challenges cited by Wynn Resorts. The ceasefire, which came into place in April 2026, has not entirely halted hostilities, as the UAE has reported continued Iranian attacks, despite Tehran's denials. This ongoing instability underscores how capital's ventures are inextricably linked to the geopolitical strategies of states and the projection of military power to secure resources and markets.
Gulf states find themselves caught between war and peace, with talks stalled and the vital Strait of Hormuz remaining largely closed. This environment of protracted tension and disruption directly impacts the flow of goods and the security of investments, demonstrating that the pursuit of profit in volatile regions carries inherent risks that are ultimately borne by the global working class through disrupted supply chains and increased costs.
The State's Role in Facilitating Capital
The UAE's decision to grant Wynn Resorts the first commercial gaming license, despite gambling being prohibited under Islamic laws, illustrates the state's primary function: to create conditions favorable for capital accumulation. This move opens a new sector for surplus extraction in the oil-rich Gulf state. The population of the UAE is 90 percent foreign, indicating a reliance on a vast migrant labor force that will likely staff such large-scale resorts, often under conditions of wage suppression and limited rights. The state's legal framework is thus adapted to serve the interests of transnational corporations, prioritizing economic growth and foreign investment over existing cultural or religious prohibitions, thereby expanding the avenues for global capital to exploit new markets and labor pools.