Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E (December 8, 2025) - Wynn Al Marjan Island today announces that, upon opening in Spring 2027, it will debut a museum-caliber art collection that brings together masterpieces, iconic works, and newly commissioned pieces by regional and international artists from across the globe. Exhibited throughout the resort's public spaces, guest areas, and rooms, the collection will create an immersive Living Gallery experience built around one of the region's most significant private art collections.
The collection spans the prehistoric, ancient, Victorian, Old Master, natural-world, and Orientalist periods, reflecting a breadth never before assembled within a single hospitality destination. Among the highlights are a 66-million-year-old Triceratops skull, a specially commissioned Light Into Life sculpture by acclaimed British artist Marc Quinn, and a 17th-century, 10-meter wool-and-silk tapestry with counterparts held at the Louvre and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Wynn will also bring major works from its global properties to Ras Al Khaimah. These include Jeff Koons' expansive 11-meter Tulips, previously displayed at Wynn Las Vegas, and a Jaume Plensa sculpture from his Secret Garden series, most recently exhibited at Encore Boston Harbor. Complementing these are a rare quartet of 18th-century Buccleuch vases, originally showcased at Wynn Palace in Macao, and a Victorian cut-glass console and mirror from Wynn Las Vegas.
Commenting on the resort's approach to art, Todd-Avery Lenahan, President and Chief Creative Officer of Wynn Design & Development, said: "Wynn Al Marjan Island's approach to art goes far beyond acquisition. Beauty is a universal language, and by integrating art into the fabric of the resort, Wynn invites guests to discover these pieces in an informal yet engaging and meaningful way. Too often, art becomes forgettable when presented as formal or static. We take the opposite approach, designing moments that encourage engagement across every age and background."
A significant component of the collection is Lenahan's contemporary reinterpretation of the East-West artistic dialogue that shaped 19th-century Orientalism. Instead of Western artists bringing Middle Eastern imagery back to Europe, this collection reverses that journey, returning historically significant works to the region that inspired them. Many of these artworks have spent generations in private collections and will be publicly exhibited for the first time in decades. Pieces include Caravan in the Desert by Gustave Guillaumet (1840–1887), illustrating the approach of a caravan and camel to the Sahara Desert in Algiers, and Rudolf Ernst's Entering the Temple (1854–1932), from a series depicting Islamic culture across North Africa, Turkey, and Egypt.
"There is an extraordinary cultural legacy in this region," said Lenahan. "Its influence on the great Orientalist painters and explorers is profound. They were captivated by the depth of the culture, the poetry of the landscapes, and the spirit of the people. This region didn't just inspire art - it shaped it. These works deserve to be contextualized with accuracy and respect; they are not decorations; they are the foundation of a living gallery. We built a resort around the art, not the other way around. It is architecture in dialogue with culture, carefully curated so that every space tells a story that resonates, educates, and elevates."
Alongside historic works, the collection elevates contemporary regional voices, including in-room and suite artworks by Algerian artist Faïza Maghni, whose practice draws from the visual language of Persian miniatures. "In our guest rooms," Lenahan continued, "every artwork carries intention, nothing is gratuitous, and nothing is placed for decoration alone. Every piece of art across the resort, whether in a room or within a public space, has been commissioned specifically for its place in the resort. We are not only collectors; we are patrons. A resort of this caliber is a home for both established masters and tomorrow's names."
From the moment guests arrive, the scale and emotion of the collection are felt immediately. Statement pieces anchor each entrance, signaling what Lenahan describes as "the first note in the song." As guests move through the resort, the art unfolds in rhythm, alternating between grand gestures and quiet moments of intimacy. Some works appear in unexpected contexts, with sculptures once displayed outdoors brought inside, while delicate pieces are placed within the landscape to encourage pause, engagement, and reflection.
Set across more than 60 hectares, Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,217 resort rooms and 297 Enclave suites, plus two Royal Apartments, four Garden Townhomes, and 10 Marina Estates. Guests will discover 22 restaurants, lounges, and bars, and a beach club, as well as the region's most opulent spa and beauty destination, and a skylit shopping parterre with the world's most venerable international luxury brands. The resort will also feature Coral Court, a bespoke celebrations and events venue; The Showroom, a new theater experience; 12 pools; a 420-meter white-sand beach; and a deep-water marina designed to welcome superyachts from around the globe. Construction is progressing on schedule, with topping-out of the 300-meter iconic spire planned for November 2025 and an early Spring 2027 opening.
