The Island Dubai is about to change what Jumeirah’s coastline looks like. Dubai’s Jumeirah coastline is about to look very different. The Island by Wasl, a 26-acre beachfront development sitting directly next to the Burj Al Arab, has three of the most recognizable hotel names in the world locked in. MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Aria are all confirmed for what MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle has publicly described as a more than $2.5 billion project, the biggest undertaking of its kind currently in progress in Dubai.
What Is The Island Dubai
The Island by Wasl is a joint development between Wasl Asset Management Group and MGM Resorts International, located along the Jumeirah waterfront in Umm Suqeim, directly next to the Burj Al Arab. The site spans 26 acres and will total approximately two million square feet of space, covering luxury hotel towers, dining, retail, and lifestyle amenities across the longest stretch of waterfront ever developed in Dubai.
Construction got underway in 2024. The main contractor is China State Construction Engineering Corporation, appointed on a deal worth AED 4.4 billion, or roughly $1.2 billion, the largest single construction contract awarded in Dubai since 2017. Germany-based Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants is handling the architectural work. The current target opening is H2 2028. At its full scale, The Island Dubai will deliver approximately two million square feet of space, the longest stretch of waterfront ever developed in the emirate.
Three Vegas Icons, One Location
The Island Dubai will house three separate hotel towers, each under a distinct MGM Resorts brand, totaling more than 1,400 rooms. This will be the first time MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Aria have appeared together in the Middle East.
The Bellagio brings its Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic and is internationally known for its choreographed fountain show and permanent Cirque du Soleil aquatic performance in Las Vegas. Aria is the more upscale option, recognized for a dining lineup that includes Jean-Georges Steakhouse, Catch, and Carbone. MGM Grand is the entertainment-heavy flagship, associated with headline events, celebrity appearances, and pool experiences.
The hotels are supported by extensive beachfront dining, a 110-metre entertainment tower, swimming pools, a business lounge, retail, and artificial water features.
The Casino Question Nobody Is Ignoring
Dubai’s project is a non-gaming resort. MGM Resorts entered a non-gaming management agreement with Wasl Hospitality, and Hornbuckle confirmed during a 2024 investor call that The Island will exceed $2.5 billion in total investment with no casino component.
That is the current picture in Dubai. The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, the GCGRA, was established in 2023 as the country’s federal gaming regulator. So far, it has issued one land-based casino license, which went to Wynn Resorts for its $5 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, expected to open in 2027 as the UAE’s first legal casino.
Separately, MGM has publicly stated its interest in gaming if UAE regulations evolve to allow it. CEO Bill Hornbuckle confirmed the company submitted a gaming license application in Abu Dhabi, making MGM the first major international casino operator to publicly confirm doing so. Abu Dhabi is widely considered the frontrunner for the country’s second land-based gaming license.
One detail worth noting: Hornbuckle has confirmed that a roughly 200,000-square-foot space inside The Island is being designed to function as either a casino or a retail center, depending on how the regulatory situation develops.
Why This Project Is Worth Paying Attention To
The Island Dubai is not just another luxury hotel opening. It fits into a pattern the UAE has executed for years, using premium global brands and high-end tourism infrastructure to attract high-net-worth visitors and convert that demand into long-term residency and direct investment.
The timing adds context. The Island is targeting H2 2028. Wynn Al Marjan Island opens in 2027. MGM has applied for a license in Abu Dhabi. The GCGRA has stated publicly that it is taking a deliberate, measured approach to issuing additional licenses.
From a pure hospitality standpoint, a $2.5 billion resort with three Las Vegas flagship brands, positioned on prime Jumeirah Beach next to the Burj Al Arab, would be one of the most significant hotel openings the UAE has ever seen. Whether gaming follows is the part of the story still taking shape.
Project Snapshot
- Development: The Island by Wasl
- Location: Jumeirah Beach, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, next to the Burj Al Arab
- Developer: Wasl Asset Management Group and MGM Resorts International
- Hotel brands: MGM Grand, Bellagio, Aria
- Total rooms: 1,400+
- Total area: 26 acres, approximately 2 million sq ft
- Construction contract value: AED 4.4 billion ($1.2 billion)
- Total project budget: More than $2.5 billion
- Expected opening: H2 2028
The Island Dubai is one of the UAE’s most consequential hospitality projects currently under construction. Three Las Vegas icons, a multi-billion dollar budget, and a Jumeirah Beach location next to the Burj Al Arab put it in a category of its own. The 2028 opening date gives it a natural landing point in a UAE hospitality landscape that is clearly evolving at speed. Whether a gaming component eventually follows is a conversation the industry, and the regulators, are already having.
Cover Image: Government of Dubai Media Office/Website
