Bank of Montreal is setting up an office in the United Arab Emirates, in its capital Abu Dhabi.

The move expands its asset management and investment banking services to clients in the Middle East and North Africa.

While BMO marks the first Canadian bank to have operations in the capital city, others have representative offices in the region.

The bank said the representative office in Abu Dhabi is an example of the growing ties between North America and the Middle East.

Bank of Montreal has more than 38,000 employees across its North American operations, which include retail banking, wealth management and investment banking, as well as its Chicago-based Harris Bank subsidiary.