Wynn Resorts has confirmed that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran will delay the opening of its new casino in Ras Al Khaimah.

However, the company stated that although the project opening faces a minor delay, its financial forecasts remain unchanged.

These remarks were made during the company's first-quarter financial results call by Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts.

He acknowledged that the project's opening date would be postponed but remained optimistic and positive about the flagship UAE project.

Billings said: We expect a slight delay in our opening timeline, and I think we will quantify that in the coming months. However, the project is progressing every day.

In mid-March, construction operations at the Wynn-managed casino were halted after debris from an intercepted drone fell approximately 15 kilometers from the project site.

Prior to the start of the conflict between the US and Iran, the UAE's first legal casino was expected to open in the first quarter of 2027. Although Billings declined to provide a new date, he did not rule out a summer opening.

Referring to the hot summer months, he said: As you all know, seasonality affects gaming resorts, but not to the extent it affects pure lodging hotels. I think in the long run, we will see the same situation in the UAE.

Unlike many parts of the world, summer is undoubtedly the slowest tourism season in the UAE and across the Middle East, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees.

Currently, more than 22,000 construction workers are active on the Ras Al Khaimah project, along with 368 hotel employees.

As expected, the project has faced war-related delays in material supplies, but construction continues, and Billings expressed satisfaction with the pace of execution.

He also emphasized that increased shipping costs for a $5 billion project would be nothing more than a minor expense, although a longer construction period could slightly increase costs.