Dubai’s MGM Resort megaproject is on track and will be open in the third quarter of 2028, with the island featuring MGM, Bellagio and Aria, with over 1,500 units across hotel apartment and villas.
Empower’s first quarter 2028 cooling start indicates building services, testing and commissioning will need to advance before hotel operations begin later that year.
Construction has also stayed in MGM’s 2026 investor communications, which places Dubai inside the group’s active long-term development pipeline.
MGM’s 2025 annual report carries the same message. Procurement teams, fit-out contractors and future brand partners usually look for that consistency before locking detailed delivery plans. Dubai’s project has started to show it.
The Island is a 10.5ha man-made island featuring MGM, Bellagio and Aria, with over 1,500 units across hotel apartments and villas. Cafés, restaurants, retail stores, family entertainment options and an extended beachfront sit inside the same scheme. Revenue sources will not rely on room inventory alone. Food service, beachfront traffic and leisure spend are built into the site plan from the outset.
The island is near Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach, two of Dubai’s busiest leisure zones. Extended beachfront access paired with restaurants, retail and entertainment should stretch visitor dwell time and raise spend per guest across the day, not only during overnight stays. Wasl has also tied the project to Dubai’s wider development agenda and sustainability targets through its infrastructure agreements.
