The United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is preparing to roll out a new online gaming framework that mirrors the UAE’s existing land-based casino model – allowing for just one business-to-consumer (B2C) license per Emirate.
Sources familiar with the process report that the new framework would empower each of the UAE’s seven Emirates to decide individually whether to participate, with each permitted to host only one online operator. The model reflects the country’s cautious and highly controlled approach to the gaming sector, designed to balance economic diversification with stringent oversight.
To date, only one land-based casino license has been issued under the same “one license per emirate” model, to Wynn Resorts – which is developing a $5 billion integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The project, expected to open in 2027, will feature luxury accommodation, entertainment venues, and the UAE’s first regulated casino.
Abu Dhabi is widely viewed as a frontrunner for a potential second land-based casino license, but analysts do not expect all emirates to follow suit. The same selective approach is expected for the online space, with observers predicting that only two or three Emirates will opt to license iGaming operators in the near term. Industry analysts say this restrained rollout reflects a deliberate strategy by the GCGRA to manage reputational risk and market sustainability while establishing a solid regulatory foundation for future growth.
The GCGRA, established in 2023 as the UAE’s sole federal body overseeing commercial gaming and national lotteries, has already begun issuing business-to-business (B2B) vendor licenses. These approvals set the stage for operator licensing and signal the regulator’s readiness to move from framework development to market activation.
Recent B2B approvals include iGaming platform provider Hub88 Holdings Ltd and sports data and analytics company Sportradar AG. The latter’s newly granted vendor license authorizes it to supply data-driven technology, sports integrity solutions, and analytics to licensed operators within the UAE.
The early wave of supplier licenses highlights the GCGRA’s proactive stance in ensuring the necessary technological and integrity infrastructure is in place before B2C operations commence.
At a recent gaming summit, GCGRA CEO Kevin Mullally articulated a bold vision for the UAE to become a global hub for gaming technology and innovation. He encouraged suppliers to design products based on creativity and player engagement, rather than limiting development to fit existing regulatory molds.
Mullally emphasized that regulation should evolve alongside innovation, allowing technology to inform policy rather than constrain it. He also underscored that the authority’s primary focus remains on player protection, transparency, and data integrity. “We want to build a regulatory system that adapts to creativity, not one that prevents it,” he said, noting that responsible innovation will be key to the UAE’s success in establishing an international benchmark for gaming oversight.
Industry observers believe the UAE’s measured yet forward-looking regulatory approach could position it as a model jurisdiction within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
By combining exclusivity with an openness to innovation, the country is seeking to attract global operators and suppliers interested in stable, high-value opportunities rather than rapid, high-risk market entry.
