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Circle has secured a Financial Services Permission license from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The approval allows the USDC issuer to operate as a regulated Money Services Provider inside Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone and expand its stablecoin services across the United Arab Emirates.
Under the new ADGM license, Circle can offer regulated payment, settlement, and digital-asset services linked to USDC in the UAE. The company plans to target business payments, treasury operations, and developer infrastructure that rely on fiat-referenced tokens.
The approval builds on earlier recognition in Dubai, where regulators registered USDC and EURC under the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s crypto token regime. This dual recognition in Abu Dhabi and Dubai gives Circle a platform across both of the country’s main international financial centers.
Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire described regulatory clarity as a core requirement for an open internet financial system. He said ADGM’s framework sets strict standards for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection. Those standards aim to support stablecoins that operate at scale while remaining inside regulated parameters.
Industry participants see the move as another signal that stablecoins now play a structural role in cross-border payments. With the new license, Circle can position USDC as a compliant settlement asset for regional banks, fintechs, and corporates that want blockchain rails with clear oversight.
The license strengthens Abu Dhabi’s wider effort to attract digital asset firms that seek firm, rules-based supervision. Since 2017, UAE authorities have introduced frameworks for virtual assets, fiat-referenced tokens, and yield-bearing stablecoins. Officials now link that approach to rising on-chain volumes and growing institutional interest in the region.
Alongside Circle’s approval, regulators in ADGM recently granted similar recognition to Tether’s USDT across multiple supported blockchains. Binance also disclosed full authorization in the jurisdiction, with separate entities for exchange, clearing, and brokerage operations. The structure mirrors traditional capital markets and aims to support regulated trading, custody, and settlement services.
Broader policy work continues in parallel. Earlier this year, the UAE signed a multilateral crypto tax-reporting agreement tied to the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework. Authorities also launched an industry consultation on how firms should report digital-asset activity ahead of a planned 2027 rollout.
Circle has paired the regulatory approval with a leadership move for the Middle East and North Africa. The company appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as managing director for the region. She joins from Visa, where she oversaw the Gulf Cooperation Council markets, and previously advised banks and sovereign institutions at global consulting firms.
Dr. Jaffar will guide Circle’s regional strategy, build partnerships, and promote USDC adoption in business payments and financial infrastructure. Circle aims to tap the UAE’s position as a trading and remittance hub, as well as its policies that allow banks to custody stablecoin reserves under supervision.
Market participants describe Abu Dhabi’s approach as focused on regulated digital assets rather than broad “crypto-friendly” branding. With Circle, Tether, and Binance now operating under ADGM oversight, the UAE strengthens its bid to act as a central node for compliant stablecoin and digital-asset activity across the Middle East and beyond.
Also Read: Circle Calls For Clear GENIUS Act Oversight Of US Dollar-Linked Stablecoins
