Alantra, an independent global mid-market financial services firm headquartered in Spain, has opened a new office in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to provide investment banking services to its clients in the region, further strengthening its global reach via deep, local market penetration.

The global firm, which has received authorisation from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to conduct financial services within and from DIFC, comprises over 650 professionals across 25 offices in 22 countries.

Alantra’s move to the region is strategic, and DIFC will provide the firm with direct access to diverse trade and investment opportunities within emerging markets, as well as access to top talent from across the world. This will broaden the firm’s regional offering with a robust team of sector-specific experts.

Saad Ashraf has been appointed as the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) of Alantra DIFC and has been entrusted with the job of spearheading the firm’s operations and growth strategies in the region.

Alantra initiated its coverage of the Middle East at the end of 2021, mainly focusing on the maritime and offshore sector through its Maritime and Shipping team based in Athens, which will now also be based in the DIFC, having executed approximately 20 deals worth over $1bn in the region.

Commenting on the Dubai initiative, Saad Ashraf said, “DIFC was a natural choice for Alantra when we decided to set up our investment banking activities in the Middle East, given Dubai’s strategic location, top-notch infrastructure, and availability of specialised talent. We have also domiciled and relocated a significant part of our global Marine & Shipping Investment banking sector team to DIFC in light of the region’s strong relevance for this growing sector. We believe that our specialisation in key sectors such as FIG, consumer, real estate, healthcare & technology will add meaningful value to our clients’ strategic objectives.”