MGM Mirage and Dubai World

MGM Mirage and Dubai World are close to an agreement on a proposal that would ensure the completion of their CityCenter project in Las Vegas, people with knowledge of the talks said on Friday.

While MGM Mirage and Dubai World have settled many of the issues between them, they must still reach an accord with the banks financing CityCenter, a sprawling residential and casino development, one of these people said. The talks are aimed at amending the terms of a $1.8 billion loan needed to complete the project.

The goal of any agreement would be to ensure that CityCenter received the financing to be completed, these people said. It would also seek to protect the development should MGM Mirage, its developer, default on its own debt, which would set off a cross-default on the CityCenter loan.

Under the existing terms of that loan, MGM Mirage and Dubai World must make about $800 million in additional payments to access the financing. The two partners would like to gain access to the financing before those payments are made.

The bank group is led by Bank of America, which is serving as the administrative agent.

Representatives for MGM Mirage and Dubai World declined to comment.

In a statement announcing that MGM Mirage had made a $70 million payment to CityCenter’s banks — a payment that also covered $35 million that was to be paid by Dubai World — James J. Murren, the casino operator’s chief executive, reiterated his company’s support for the development.

“MGM is determined to make CityCenter a success and we continue to review with our partners all options to keep CityCenter fully funded,” Mr. Murren said. “We are continuing to engage in constructive discussions with our senior lenders and the CityCenter lending group and we appreciate the support of the involved parties.”