The United Arab Emirates is now the only nation on the Arabian Peninsula with an entirely legal and federally licensed lottery system.
Tickets for the UAE Lottery went on sale Tuesday with a grand prize of 100 million dirhams (approximately US$27.2 million) up for grabs through their official lottery website, and will take part in its inaugural draw set to take place December 14. Soon enough we could also see the UAE Lottery results included in the lottery data feed from various providers, a tool which offer website owners access to quickly display the latest results on their pages.
Open to All Residents
Prior to this initiative, several smaller lotteries and raffles operated within an unclear legal sphere in the UAE – such as Abu Dhabi Big Ticket, Mahooz, and Emirates Draw – which primarily targeted non-Muslim expatriate communities. By contrast, however, the new UAE Lottery welcomes all residents regardless of nationality or religion.
Notable for its inclusivity is the UAE’s commitment to Islamic teachings, which consider gambling to be a “grave sin”. Yet despite this stance, they successfully blend Islam with globalist economic strategies as oil reserves decline and recognize that diversifying their economy as necessary.
A Move Toward Economic Diversification
Although gambling remains illegal in the UAE beyond this federally approved lottery, the government is exploring potential partnerships with foreign casino operators. Casino operations exist in Morocco, Egypt and Lebanon but remain small-scale and serve predominantly foreign visitors.
The Role of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority
In September 2023, in response to Wynn Resorts’ proposal for the construction of a casino hotel, UAE established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). By July, it had awarded Abu Dhabi-based The Game LLC the lottery contract indicating a potential shift in gambling policies across the nation.
Wynn Al Marjan Island
Wynn Resorts has pledged $5.1 billion toward developing Wynn Al Marjan Island, an integrated resort expected to open by 2027 if casino gambling becomes legalized in the Middle East. Given the region’s abundance, this resort could become the first of its kind if casino gaming were legalized – this has the potential of making the UAE one of the leading gambling countries even with limited access for non-residents.
UAE’s announcement to launch a national lottery could mark an important step toward legalising gambling within their borders while maintaining both tradition and economic modernization.
