In a move that aroused resentment in conservative circles, one of the emirates apparently approved for the first time the establishment of a casino in its area.

On Tuesday, a giant casino developer from Nevada, Wayne Resorts, announced a deal worth more than $ 1 billion for the construction of a luxury hotel in the Ras al-Khaimah district.

The hotel will include 1000 rooms, restaurants, conference halls and also what has been defined as a "gaming area" that many actually interpret as a casino. The project is in the early planning stages but its completion is expected in 2026.

The Emirates has always been compared to Las Vegas because of the desert landscape, skyscrapers and large shopping malls. Gambling has so far been banned by the Emirates and if indeed this agreement is realized it means another step by the Emirates on the road to liberalization and Westernization.