Cantor Fitzgerald Secures ADGM Regulatory Approval to Expand Investment Banking Footprint in Abu Dhabi
Cantor, a leading global investment bank and a subsidiary of the Cantor Fitzgerald group, announced today that the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has granted the firm regulatory approval to conduct regulated financial activities within the international financial center.
The approval, finalized through the formal issuance of a Financial Services Permission (FSP), marks a critical milestone in Cantor's strategic expansion across the Middle East. This regulatory clearance follows the preliminary opening of the firm's dedicated corporate office in Abu Dhabi in December 2025.
Capital Flows and Middle East Momentum
Sage Kelly, Co-CEO and Global Head of Investment Banking at Cantor, emphasized that establishing a regulated presence in Abu Dhabi underscores the firm's long-term commitment to strategically vital markets that influence global capital flows. "The Middle East continues to demonstrate robust economic momentum, driven by a substantial acceleration in investment activities and institutional capital formation," Kelly stated. He noted that the ADGM infrastructure will enable Cantor to better serve clients targeting high-yield opportunities within both regional and international markets.
Ali Khalpey, Head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets for the Middle East at Cantor Fitzgerald, will lead the Abu Dhabi office, which is designated as the firm's regional hub for investment banking and capital markets operations. Cantor currently operates two specialized regional teams on-site:
An Equities Platform: Offering fully integrated sales, trading, and research capabilities tailored for sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and local, regional, and international institutional investors active in the Middle East.
An Investment Banking Team: Focused extensively on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital markets advisory workflows.
Strengthening the Regional Ecosystem
Khalpey noted that Abu Dhabi has rapidly positioned itself as a premier international financial hub and a gateway to a highly dynamic global investment environment. With the Abu Dhabi office now fully operational, the executive highlighted the firm's readiness to deepen relationships with regional clients, investors, and strategic partners while contributing to the expansion of the local capital markets ecosystem.
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, welcomed the global institution to the financial center. Ramamurthy stated that Cantor’s decision to operationalize an institutional office within Abu Dhabi reflects an escalating trend among tier-1 global financial firms leveraging ADGM's regulatory environment to capture high-growth investment pipelines across the Middle East and the wider Gulf region.