UAE Launches First Fully Legal Lottery in Arabian Peninsula

This week, the United Arab Emirates rolled out its national lottery, making it the sole nation from the Arabian Peninsula to achieve this. 

Tickets for the UAE Lottery became available for purchase on Tuesday, offering a first prize of 100 million dirhams (US$27.2 million), and can be bought through the lottery's website. The first draw is scheduled for December 14. 

Accessible to Everyone 

Many small lotteries and raffles previously operated in a legal gray zone in the UAE, such as the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket, Mahooz, and Emirates Draw. 

These primarily focused on the substantial non-Muslim expatriate population of the country. The UAE Lottery is the nation’s inaugural federally authorized lottery, available to all residents regardless of their nationality. 

This might be unexpected since the Quran prohibits gambling for Muslims, labeling games of chance as a “serious sin” and “evil creations of Satan’s work.” 

The UAE is a nation where global capitalism and lavishness exist awkwardly alongside a legal framework partially founded on Shariah law and a strong commitment to Islamic principles. It’s a rich authoritarian petrostate that understands one day its oil reserves will deplete and it needs to diversify its economy. 

Although all forms of gambling beyond the lottery are currently illegal, the government is considering the possibility of allowing foreign casino operators to enter the market. 

In other parts of the Middle East, there are casinos located in Morocco, Egypt, and Lebanon, though they are mainly small and exclusive to foreigners. 

Wynn Al Marjan Island 

In September 2023, the UAE government established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) to address Wynn Resorts' expressed desire to construct a casino hotel within the nation. 

In July, the GCGRA granted the lottery contract to The Game LLC, based in Abu Dhabi, possibly to explore the possibilities as it considers easing its gambling regulations in a way that would be unprecedented for the area. 

Wynn Resorts is investing $5.1 billion on the assumption that the UAE will permit casino gambling, with its Wynn Al Marjan Island, set to debut in 2027, anticipated to be the first integrated resort in the Middle East. 

Given the wealth in the UAE, it could be anticipated that the nation may eventually surpass Singapore in gaming revenues, regardless of whether locals are permitted to participate or not.