Cantor Fitzgerald Europe, the London-based investment banking and brokerage arm of Cantor Fitzgerald, plans to open a branch in Abu Dhabi this year. The plan appears in its 2025 annual accounts, which Companies House published yesterday (Monday).
Its existing Gulf branch, in Dubai, lost $2.4 million in 2025 on turnover of $4.5 million, more than four times its $581,000 loss a year earlier. The Dubai branch is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
London's trading industry is coming home!
Across Cantor Fitzgerald Europe as a whole, turnover rose 30% to $140.9 million, while pre-tax profit fell 32% to $6.0 million.
Other Firms Already Licensed in Abu Dhabi
Cantor would join brokers that have already secured a foothold in the emirate. eToro won approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market to act as a broker in securities, derivatives and crypto in November 2023.
Standard Chartered-backed Zodia Markets received a license to run an institutional crypto brokerage there in December 2024, its fourth operating location after Jersey, Ireland and the UK.
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At Cantor Fitzgerald Europe, most turnover still comes from London. The UK operation produced $132.0 million of turnover and $7.9 million of pre-tax profit, while the Israel branch made $586,000 on turnover of $4.3 million.
Commissions Up, Trading Gains Down
The European unit of Cantor Fitzgerald, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), runs investment banking, equities, fixed income and prime services businesses. Commission and fee income rose to $127.2 million from $78.5 million.
Net gains on financial instruments held at fair value fell to $9.4 million from $25.9 million, and fees from other Cantor companies were little changed at $4.3 million.
Operating profit rose 29% to $24.6 million. The drop in pre-tax profit came below that line: interest payable rose to $41.5 million from $36.4 million while interest income fell to $22.9 million from $26.1 million, so net interest costs rose to $18.6 million from $10.3 million.
Interest paid to clients on cash margin held against equity swap positions was $20.2 million, flat on the year. Other interest payable, mainly on stock loans, rose to $15.3 million from $9.2 million.
| Cantor Fitzgerald Europe ($ million) | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 140.9 | 108.8 | +30% |
| Gross profit | 114.0 | 88.6 | +29% |
| Operating profit | 24.6 | 19.1 | +29% |
| Net interest cost | 18.6 | 10.3 | +81% |
| Pre-tax profit | 6.0 | 8.8 | -32% |
| Net profit | 6.8 | 6.0 | +15% |
A $825,000 tax credit, driven by a newly recognized deferred tax asset, lifted net profit to $6.8 million from $6.0 million. The directors do not plan a dividend for 2025.
A Balance Sheet That Doubled
The company has nine employees of its own, four in Israel and five in Dubai, and none in the UK. Its London staff are provided by Cantor Fitzgerald Services LLP, a partnership that charged it a service fee of $65.3 million, up from $47.7 million.
Current assets rose to $1.95 billion from $929 million, with trade debtors up to $984.7 million from $400.6 million. Net assets increased to $94.5 million, and the regulatory capital surplus stood at $52.3 million, against $48.9 million a year earlier.
The last results of the unit covered by FinanceMagnates.com were for 2022, when pre-tax profit rose to $12.6 million and gross profit jumped 80.5%.
At the end of 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald Europe was an equity member of the London Stock Exchange and a derivatives member of that exchange , Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Paris, Eurex and ICE Futures Europe. Its immediate parent is Cantor Fitzgerald Services LLP.
Board Changes
Directors' aggregate pay rose to $2.0 million from $1.9 million, while the highest-paid director received $1.26 million, down from $1.37 million. Some directors are paid through the partnership's service fee instead.
Three directors joined in the final quarter of 2025, according to Companies House: Joshua Spellman and Michael Whitaker in October and Andrew Shortland, who signed the accounts, in December.
Sean Capstick left the board in November 2025, and Jennifer Hill, a non-executive director, stepped down on August 11, 2026.
