JP Morgan is poised to expand its corporate banking services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by significantly increasing its operations in Abu Dhabi. This expansion comes after receiving approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) for a category one license at Abu Dhabi’s international financial center, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

The announcement, made at the beginning of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, was accompanied by JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon addressing the conference virtually from New York. Dimon emphasized the firm’s ten-year presence in the UAE and the establishment of a legal entity in ADGM in 2021. The decision to upgrade its license to a category one bank underscores JP Morgan’s dedication to the region, aiming to provide a comprehensive range of corporate banking services to its wholesale clients.

JP Morgan’s Declan Hegarty hailed the upgrade as a pivotal moment for the bank’s expansion in the UAE. The increased presence in ADGM enables JP Morgan to engage in deposit-taking and payment processing, further strengthening its existing regional footprint. Arvind Ramamurthy of ADGM praised the supportive regulatory environment facilitating such financial expansions.

This strategic move aligns with broader discussions on the adoption of real-time payment systems, such as Fed Now, seen as crucial by JP Morgan Payments’ Rupa Krishnan for building trust among financial institutions for widespread adoption.

JP Morgan’s decision to reinforce its operations in Abu Dhabi highlights the city’s status as a key business hub in the Middle East, attracting FinTech innovators and major financial players due to its global significance. The upgraded license and expansion plans are poised to contribute to the dynamic economies of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, solidifying their positions as leading financial centers in the region.