MGM Resorts to Open New Dubai Resort in 2027

Image: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Photo Credit: 4kclips / Adobe Stock)
Image: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Photo Credit: 4kclips / Adobe Stock)
Lacey Pfalz
by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Mon May 5, 2025

MGM Resorts’ latest financial call from April 30 provided more insight into the future of the resort and entertainment company’s development of a resort complex in Dubai. 

Bill Hornbuckle, MGM’s CEO and President, told reporters and those on the call that the development is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2027, and that they’re working on getting approval for a casino. 

“We are building an environment that can accommodate [gaming],” said Hornbuckle. “And that building is due to complete third quarter of '27. We are literally up on the fifth floor of the MGM Tower as we speak. And so it's [a] pretty exciting building. It's an exciting project, a truly interesting resort with all kinds of features. And so hopefully, we'll get to add gaming.” 

According to Skift, the company has been trying to break into the United Arab Emirates for around twenty years, with the resort complex originally announced seventeen years ago as “The Island,” comprising Aria, Bellagio and MGM-branded resorts within a 26-acre man-made island along Dubai’s coastline.

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Lacey Pfalz

Lacey Pfalz

Senior Editor, News & Features

Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse. She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary. Lacey currently lives in rural Wisconsin. She can be reached at [email protected].

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