Dubai developer Wasl Asset Management has chosen China State Construction Engineering Corporation to build “The Island”, a 10.5ha resort on reclaimed land off the coast of Jumeirah beach, MEED reports.
The $1.2bn project, first announced in 2017, will have hotels from MGM, Aria and Bellagio, and a marina.
Land reclamation has been done and foundations have been installed.
Among the consultants with a role on the scheme are Dutch architect UNStudio, UK designer Brewer Smith Brewer Group and Buro Kling Architectural Engineering Consultants from Germany.
MGM Resorts is a casino operator in Las Vegas and other American cities. There has been speculation that it will open a casino on The Island if the UAE changes its laws on gambling.
Such a change is on the cards. In September, the emirates set up a General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority with a view to create a regulatory framework for a national lottery and commercial gaming.
This will “facilitate unlocking the economic potential of commercial gaming responsibly”, according to Emirati state media WAM.
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