The First Casino in the UAE, Virtually At Least.. Will This Be A Game Changer for Dubai? For one, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on course to introduce its inaugural casino just outside Dubai. The decision marks a major departure for the country, where entertainment and leisure have long been avoided due to cultural and religious restrictions. The casino is anticipated to be established in Ras Al Khaimah, a little emirate which lies at simply an hours drive from Dubai, and it would be one element of high-end resort. What Had This Opening Imply for the UAE? Casino in UAE is a big development because gambling has mostly been forbidden within the Gulf area as Islam prohibits it. But the move does fit into a larger plan by the UAE to reduce its reliance on oil — as part of a push for economic diversification — and turn itself into less staid tourist destination, positioned to draw in international visitors year-round. The UAE is seeking to cash in on the solid if largely unremarkable growth of gambling tourism in other parts, especially Asia and Europe where casinos have been opening up with some success. It is believed to be the latest in a string of moves towards loosening regulations across private businesses within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), part of efforts by this nation and Gulf lawmakers, aiming at modernizing laws to appeal more effectively for a worldwide audience. The move could set a precedent for more liberalization and some new tourism concepts in the region. Casino Services Part of a larger integrated resort development from Wynn Resorts, the casino is expected to offer services targeting both domestic and international tourists. The resort, which is widely anticipated to feature resorts style gambling such as poker, blackjack and roulette machines among many others -- not-for-profit conceivable hotels with fine dining restaurants next season plus entertainment showplaces also together with day spa capability. The resort is designed to provide a full luxury experience, and so the type of clientele they expect are high-net-worth individuals who may come for corporate events that occupy an entire wing at once (and bring in private chefs from out-of-state), as well as tourists passing through internationally. If it does enter the locality in which you reside, or are planning to visit (as an international tourist), this will mean strict rules have been put into place that include laws follow and suitable to practices expected. In addition, it could potentially have cultural elements or trappings that appeal to specific types of local cultures while still giving a AAA gaming experience. Would there be More Casinos Opening in Dubai? Now that the stage is set for Ras Al Khaimah, UAE will have its first casino but whether Dubai follows suit remains to be seen. Dubai has ambitions to become a new international tourist and business capital, as such it is not beyond the realms of possibility that someday in the future Dubai may consider opening casinos. Opening casinos in Dubai, meanwhile, is contingent on the Ras Al Khaimah process and how it would be received by members of the public. This casino is kind of getting us all a feel for what one could look like in the future. But if it makes sense and the public in that emirate likes gambling, then other emirates — including Dubai could consider their own initiatives to close its casino. The most immediate problem is that claims of control over territories, abrogating constitutional guarantees to Kashmir and bifurcat­ing the state could be highly provocative if not internationally rejected but any territorial expansion would need to combine economic gain with cultural-religious sentiment — a recipe for slow phase by phased incremental steps. Conclusion The casino being located near Dubai at the Arada Leisure Park could be hailed as a sign of progress if it opens, marking UAE's first. Hopefully, it could go some way to attracting another giant slab of tourists and get holdout investors onside with the notion that anywhere else in the world now plays second fiddle when seeking leisure entertainment. Is this likely to result in more, Dubai and beyond casinos opening? we will have to wait on that one however its certainly new tourism ground.