The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has granted China Securities a licence to set up a regional office in the centre.

Headquartered in Beijing, China Securities is a publicly listed securities firm. Its business spans equity and debt capital markets, investment banking, asset management and institutional services.

The firm has also secured authorisation from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from DIFC.

According to DIFC, the Dubai office will give the firm a base in the region. It will support the firm’s work with clients, investors and financial institutions across the Middle East.

DIFC expects the office to strengthen links between Chinese, UAE and international capital markets.

In the centre’s view, the move reinforces Dubai’s role as a gateway for investment flows between Asia and the Middle East.

China Securities’ decision to establish in DIFC follows sustained engagement between the two organisations.

During this process, DIFC introduced the firm to opportunities available through Dubai, helped it understand the regional market and supported its long-term plans to expand internationally.

China Securities is the latest Chinese investment bank to set up in DIFC. Other Chinese institutions in the centre include Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Communications and China Construction Bank.

China International Capital Corporation Limited, China Merchants Bank International and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China also operate from DIFC, alongside other Chinese securities and financial services firms.

China’s five largest banks together hold more than 30% of total assets in DIFC’s Banking and Capital Markets sector.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) via its website.

This article first appeared on Fintech News UAE.