UAE Forges Ahead with Regulated Gaming Market, Attracting Major Global Operators

The United Arab Emirates is making significant strides toward establishing a major regulated commercial gaming market, highlighted by a landmark partnership between U.S. digital sports giant Fanatics and Abu Dhabi’s Momentum Group. This move comes as the nation actively seeks to diversify its economy and enhance its appeal as a global tourism hub, despite ongoing geopolitical complexities in the wider Gulf region.

Pivotal Regulatory Framework

A critical development enabling this shift was the implementation of the UAE’s 2025 Federal Decree-Law No. 25, which officially took effect on June 1, 2026. This legislation marked a departure from previous civil-code ambiguities by removing the national prohibition on gambling and betting, establishing instead a dedicated, federally led licensing regime under the new General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). This new framework is designed to oversee and regulate all commercial gaming activities across the Emirates.

Fanatics and Momentum Group Forge Strategic Alliance

Further solidifying the UAE’s emergent gaming landscape, Fanatics finalized a strategic joint venture with Momentum Group on June 29, 2026, following approval from the GCGRA. This partnership represents one of the first substantial international investments in the country's nascent regulated gaming sector. Under the terms of the agreement, Fanatics will assume operational control of Momentum's existing licensed lottery, digital sportsbook, and online gaming ventures, including the digital test case Play971. Momentum contributes its foundational regional infrastructure, while Fanatics integrates its proprietary gaming technology and sports-wagering infrastructure.

Executives from both companies expressed confidence in the UAE's approach. Momentum Group Chief Operating Officer, Scott Burton, lauded the agreement as proof of faith in the regulatory environment, stating that the country has built “one of the world’s most carefully regulated commercial gaming markets.” Fanatics President, Conor Grant, echoed this sentiment, describing the UAE as “one of the most thoughtfully regulated commercial gaming markets in the world,” and reaffirmed his New York City-headquartered company’s long-term dedication to the region.

Tourism-Driven Growth and Integrated Resorts

The drive towards a regulated gaming market is intrinsically linked to the UAE’s broader economic strategy, which heavily emphasizes tourism. In 2024, tourism contributed an estimated AED 257.3 billion (US$70.06 billion) to the national GDP, accounting for 13 percent of the total economy, with 18.72 million international overnight visitors. This positions the UAE among the world's leading tourist destinations.

Significant hospitality projects are unfolding alongside gaming investment, most notably the US$5.1 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island. This integrated resort, under construction in Ras Al Khaimah, is slated to open in early 2027 and is anticipated to become the UAE’s inaugural property to offer casino gaming under the GCGRA framework. Entering the market early allows operators like Fanatics to cultivate local partnerships and establish brand recognition before heightened competition emerges.

Navigating Geopolitical and Cultural Headwinds

Despite the clear commercial opportunities, the UAE’s gaming aspirations face geopolitical and cultural challenges. While the Emirates have generally maintained stability amidst regional conflicts, the area has experienced military escalations, including missile and drone strikes linked to the U.S.-Israel–Iran conflict. Such events can disrupt supply chains and influence investor confidence across the Middle East, even if the UAE is not directly targeted.

Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings acknowledged these difficulties during a Q1 2026 earnings call, confirming a delay for the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort