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Could the next big gambling destination be in the Gulf?
The UAE hopes to emulate Las Vegas and Macau.
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The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is stepping up its tourism drive beyond beachfront hotels (above) and wading into the lucrative world of gambling.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
The Economist
With its well-preserved fishing village and hilltop fort, the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, an hour’s drive north of Dubai, provides a glimpse of bygone days in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It now offers a view of the future, too. On its otherwise barren coast, a 350m-tall casino is under construction. When it opens in 2027, it will be one of the world’s largest.
Over the past few decades, the UAE, in a bid to diversify its economy away from oil and gas, has built a thriving tourism industry and positioned itself as a hub for wealthy expats. Now its rulers are looking to another source of business: gambling.
