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Cantor, a premier global investment bank and part of the Cantor Fitzgerald group of companies, has announced that The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, has granted the firm approval to conduct regulated financial activities within the ADGM.
The approval, confirmed through the issuance of a Financial Services Permission (FSP), represents a significant milestone in Cantor's strategic expansion across the Middle East. This authorisation follows the opening of the firm's Abu Dhabi office in December 2025.
Sage Kelly, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Global Head of Investment Banking at Cantor commented:
“Establishing our presence in Abu Dhabi reflects Cantor's long-term commitment to strategically important markets that are increasingly shaping global capital flows. The Middle East continues to experience strong economic momentum, rising investment activity and significant institutional capital formation. Our presence within ADGM positions us to better serve clients seeking opportunities both within the region and across international markets.”
Ali Khalpey, Head of Middle East, Investment Banking & Capital Markets at Cantor
Led by Ali Khalpey, Head of Middle East, Investment Banking & Capital Markets, Cantor's Abu Dhabi office will serve as a regional hub for the firm's investment banking and capital markets activities. Cantor currently operates two dedicated teams in the region: an Equities platform with full sales, trading and research capabilities serving sovereign wealth funds and local, regional and global institutional investors active across the Middle East; and an Investment Banking team focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets advisory.
The expansion into a major financial hub like ADGM highlights the importance of robust infrastructure and access to diverse market participants for firms providing institutional financial services. Companies like Cantor rely on sophisticated frameworks to manage vast global capital flows and deliver specialised services to institutional clients, including those requiring deep liquidity providers explained.
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Mr. Khalpey commented:
“Abu Dhabi has rapidly established itself as a leading international financial centre and a gateway to one of the world's most dynamic investment environments. With our Abu Dhabi office now fully operational, we look forward to strengthening relationships with clients, investors and strategic partners across the region while contributing to the continued growth of the local capital markets ecosystem.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM commented:
“We are pleased to welcome a premier global financial institution like Cantor to the ADGM as the firm continues to expand its presence in the region. Cantor's decision to establish operations in Abu Dhabi reflects the growing demand among leading global financial institutions to access the investment opportunities emerging across the Gulf and broader Middle East.”
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As institutional FX and capital markets continue to expand globally, explore LiquidityFinder Insight for the latest analysis and industry developments.
