Nomura commences operations in Saudi Arabia

Under the licence, Nomura will be able to offer corporate finance, capital markets and wealth management services for clients in Saudi Arabia as well as deal as agent for overseas securities. Nomura offers a gateway to global markets and access to major institutions in Asia and other financial centres worldwide.

Philip Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and Africa, Nomura International plc commented: "Saudi Arabia accounts for around 50% of GCC GDP, and as such a strong local presence is a critical part of Nomura's regional strategy. The Kingdom is making dramatic steps in modernising and deregulating its economy, and public and private entities increasingly require sophisticated financing solutions to meet their development plans. As the first Asian securities firm in Saudi Arabia, Nomura is especially well placed to bridge and facilitate the growing commercial interests between the Gulf and the Far East and strengthen emerging trading relationships. Nomura is making a significant commitment to the region, supporting our view that the Gulf is emerging as a major capital market."

Takuya Furuya, Chairman of Nomura Saudi Arabia, said:

"This is an exciting step in the development of Nomura's business across the region as we look to extend our capability to this important economy. We look forward to introducing our distinctive brand and business model in the Kingdom and building out our team on the ground in Riyadh to support emerging opportunities as markets recover."

With a presence in the region since 1974, Nomura has long-standing relationships with Saudi government bodies, financial institutions, corporates and private investors. Nomura already has offices in Dubai and Bahrain, and recently received its licence to provide corporate finance and capital markets services from the Qatar Financial Centre.