Arab countries that offers land-based casinos
Arab Countries That Offer Land Casinos
Arab countries that offer land casinos include Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia, although the legal situation and visitor requirements differ considerably between these countries. The United Arab Emirates is now adding another model to the region, with a regulated land-based gaming resort under development in Ras Al Khaimah.
Land-based casinos are therefore not common throughout the Arab world, but neither are they limited to a single country. Some have operated for decades in established tourism destinations, while other Arab countries do not have conventional licensed casinos at all.
This guide provides a concise overview of where land-based casinos in Arab countries can be found and what distinguishes the individual markets.
Which Arab Countries Have Land-Based Casinos?
| Country | Land-Based Casino Situation | Examples / Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Established land-based casinos | Marrakech and Agadir |
| Lebanon | Established casino gaming | Casino du Liban |
| Egypt | Casino gaming at authorized establishments | Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh; restrictions apply to Egyptian nationals |
| Tunisia | Land-based casino gaming | Tourism destinations including Djerba |
| United Arab Emirates | New federal commercial gaming framework | Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah under development |
These countries should not be treated as having one common casino model. Laws, entry requirements and the way casinos form part of the local tourism industry differ from country to country.
Arab Casinos
The term Arab Casinos can describe physical casinos located in Arab countries, but it does not refer to a single type of casino or regulatory system.
Religion, national law, tourism policy and local regulation have all influenced the development of casino gaming across the Arab world. As a result, some countries have established land-based casino venues while others do not permit conventional casino gaming.
It is therefore more useful to look at the individual countries and casinos rather than make general assumptions about gambling throughout the Arab world.
Morocco – Established Land-Based Casinos
Morocco has one of the more established land-based casino sectors in the Arab world. Casinos can be found in major tourism destinations, particularly Marrakech and Agadir.
Marrakech has several well-known casino venues. Casino de Marrakech, located at the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, has been part of the city’s entertainment scene since 1952 and offers traditional table games, poker, slots and electronic gaming.
Grand Casino La Mamounia is another established Marrakech venue offering conventional casino games.
Morocco is therefore an important example of an Arab country where land-based casino gaming has existed alongside a substantial international tourism industry for many years.
Lebanon – Casino du Liban
Lebanon is home to one of the best-known land-based casinos in the Arab world: Casino du Liban.
Located in Maameltein, north of Beirut, Casino du Liban is a large gaming and entertainment venue with several gaming rooms.
Its table-game selection includes Blackjack, American Roulette, Punto Banco and different poker-based games. Slot machines and poker are also part of the wider gaming offer.
Casino du Liban is particularly interesting because it represents an established conventional casino rather than a temporary tourism development or speculative future project.
Egypt – Casinos for Eligible Foreign Visitors
Egypt has land-based casino gaming at authorized hotel and tourism establishments, particularly in destinations such as Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh.
However, Egypt has an important legal distinction: gambling at these establishments is restricted to non-Egyptians under the country’s hotel and tourism establishment legislation.
This helps explain why Egyptian casinos are closely associated with international hotels and tourism destinations.
Casinos in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh
Cairo has casino gaming facilities connected with major hotels, while Sharm El Sheikh has also developed casino venues as part of its international resort sector.
One example included in the Arab Casino Directory is the Aladin Casino in Sharm El Sheikh.
Visitors should check the current operating status and entry requirements of an individual casino before travelling specifically to visit it.
Tunisia – Casinos in Tourism Destinations
Tunisia is another Arab country where land-based casino gaming can be found, particularly in established tourism areas.
Djerba is one example. The Mediterranean island is primarily known as a holiday destination, but casino gaming has also formed part of its tourism and entertainment offer.
The Grand Casino de Djerba is one of the casino venues associated with the island.
Hammamet has also been associated with land-based casino gaming. As individual venues can change their opening hours or operating status, current information should be checked before visiting.
United Arab Emirates – A New Land-Based Gaming Market
The United Arab Emirates represents a much newer development in the Arab casino landscape.
The UAE has established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), creating a federal framework for regulated commercial gaming.
Within that framework, Wynn Al Marjan in Ras Al Khaimah has received authorization as a land-based gaming facility.
This is an important distinction from older reports that discussed possible casino gaming in the UAE purely as speculation.
Wynn Al Marjan Island
Wynn Al Marjan Island is being developed as an integrated resort combining accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, leisure facilities and regulated land-based gaming.
The resort is expected to open in 2027.
It is located on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai.
The project therefore introduces a new casino model to the Arab world: a large integrated resort developed within a newly established federal commercial gaming regulatory framework.
Does Dubai Have a Land-Based Casino?
No conventional licensed land-based casino has currently been confirmed in Dubai.
This is worth clarifying because Dubai is frequently associated with UAE casino searches. The country’s licensed land-based gaming development is Wynn Al Marjan in Ras Al Khaimah, which is a different emirate.
Dubai has luxury resorts and international hotel companies that operate casinos elsewhere in the world, but the presence of a casino company or casino brand does not itself mean that gaming is licensed at a Dubai property.
What About Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait?
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait do not currently have conventional legal land-based casino sectors comparable with Morocco or Lebanon.
The expansion of tourism, hotels, sport and entertainment in parts of the Gulf should not automatically be interpreted as casino development.
The UAE’s new commercial gaming framework should also not be taken as evidence that other Gulf countries will adopt the same regulatory approach.
Games at Land-Based Casinos in Arab Countries
Where conventional casinos operate, their game selections are generally similar to those found at international casinos elsewhere.
Depending on the individual venue, visitors may find:
- Blackjack,
- Roulette,
- Baccarat,
- Poker and poker-based table games,
- Slot machines, and
- Electronic casino games.
Available games, table limits and opening hours differ between venues and can change over time.
Entry Requirements for Arab Land-Based Casinos
There is no single entry rule applying to all land-based casinos in Arab countries.
Depending on the country and venue, visitors may need to consider minimum age requirements, identification, nationality or residency restrictions, casino registration and dress requirements.
Egypt provides a particularly clear example of why country-specific rules matter because casino gambling at authorized establishments is restricted to non-Egyptians.
Land-Based Casinos vs Online Casinos
A land-based casino in an Arab country should be distinguished from an international online casino that happens to accept Arabic-speaking players.
A physical casino operates at a particular location under the rules applicable to that venue. An international online casino may instead hold a gaming licence issued in another jurisdiction.
An international gaming licence does not automatically authorize online gambling in every Arab country. Players considering online gaming should therefore check both the operator’s licensing information and the laws applicable in their own jurisdiction.
Arab Countries That Offer Land Casinos FAQ
Which Arab countries have land-based casinos?
Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia have established land-based casino venues. The UAE has also introduced a federal commercial gaming framework, with Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah being developed as a licensed land-based gaming resort.
Is Lebanon the only Arab country with casinos?
No. Lebanon is home to the well-known Casino du Liban, but land-based casinos can also be found in Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia. The UAE is developing a new regulated land-based gaming market in Ras Al Khaimah.
Does Morocco have land-based casinos?
Yes. Morocco has established casino venues in tourism destinations including Marrakech and Agadir.
Are there land-based casinos in Egypt?
Yes. Casino gaming is available at authorized establishments, particularly in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh. Egyptian law restricts gambling at these establishments to non-Egyptians.
Does Tunisia have casinos?
Yes. Land-based casino gaming can be found in Tunisian tourism destinations, including Djerba.
Does the UAE have a land-based casino?
The UAE has a federal commercial gaming framework, and Wynn Al Marjan in Ras Al Khaimah is officially licensed as a land-based gaming facility. The integrated resort is under development and expected to open in 2027.
Is there a land-based casino in Dubai?
Dubai currently has no confirmed licensed conventional land-based casino. Wynn Al Marjan Island is located in Ras Al Khaimah.
Are there land-based casinos in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia does not currently have a conventional legal land-based casino sector.
Land-Based Casinos Across the Arab World
Arab countries that offer land casinos demonstrate how different the regional gaming landscape can be. Morocco has long-established casino destinations, Lebanon has Casino du Liban, Egypt operates a distinctive tourism-oriented model, and Tunisia has casinos connected with its resort industry.
The UAE is now adding something different through its federal commercial gaming framework and the development of Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
At the same time, many Arab countries continue without conventional land-based casinos. This is why individual countries and venues should be considered separately rather than assuming that one gambling policy applies throughout the Arab world.
For more detailed information about individual destinations and venues, the Arab Casino Directory provides listings and guides to casinos across the region.
18+ | Gambling laws vary by country. An international gaming licence does not automatically permit gambling in every jurisdiction. Players should check their local laws before using any of the offers listed above. Please play responsibly.