- The ADGM license allows Circle to offer fully regulated USDC stablecoin services in the UAE.
- Circle is expanding its reach with institutional payment and settlement systems.
- The UAE has strengthened its position as a hub for compliant digital assets.
Circle has secured a significant foothold in the Middle East after receiving full regulatory approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate USDC services under comprehensive supervision.
Circle expands its regulatory footprint in the UAE
Announced at Abu Dhabi Finance Week:
→ Secured an @ADGlobalMarket FSRA Financial Services Permission to operate as a Money Services ProviderThis milestone builds on USDC and EURC being the first stablecoins recognized by… pic.twitter.com/BCSDOpo3mb
— Circle (@circle) December 9, 2025
Zatwierdzenie to stanowi jedną z najważniejszych międzynarodowych ekspansji firmy i wzmacnia szybko rosnącą rolę ZEA jako centrum regulowanych aktywów cyfrowych.
Strategic, wide-ranging license
The new Financial Services Regulatory Authority permission grants Circle the authority to operate as a fully regulated Money Services Provider in the Abu Dhabi free zone.
This approval gives Circle a formal operational base within one of the world’s most active jurisdictions for digital asset regulation.
The license permits Circle to offer payments, settlements, and digital-asset related services directly tied to USDC for businesses and financial institutions.
Operating under clear regulatory frameworks, Circle can now support wholesale payments, cross-border settlements, and custody-related services according to institutional compliance standards.
It also further cements ADGM’s growing reputation as a secure and predictable regulatory environment for digital-asset firms.
A boost for the UAE’s digital asset ambitions
The UAE is actively courting firms building fiat-referenced tokens, tokenized financial services, and corporate-grade payment infrastructure. Abu Dhabi, in particular, is positioning itself as a leading compliance hub for crypto, and Circle’s arrival validates that strategy.
The UAE has developed a reputation for providing clear rules for stablecoins and digital financial firms, making it an attractive destination for global platforms seeking regulatory certainty.
Circle’s expansion comes as stablecoins gain more formal regulatory footing worldwide, following the passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States, which established federal frameworks for the issuance and supervision of fiat-backed tokens.
The GENIUS Act prompted a wave of stablecoin initiatives among major U.S. financial institutions, increasing demand for licensed, business-ready providers like Circle.
The UAE’s dual financial free zones are also moving toward greater oversight of stablecoins.
Earlier this year, Dubai recognized USDC and EURC under the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s token framework, giving Circle regulatory support across the country’s two main jurisdictions.
Tether’s USDT has also been recognized as an approved fiat-referenced token on multiple blockchains, while Binance recently received full permission to operate its flagship platform under ADGM supervision.
These approvals reflect a deliberate shift toward a more organized and transparent digital asset market in the UAE.
Circle strengthens regional strategy with leadership appointments
Circle sees immediate opportunities to enable faster corporate payments, treasury operations, and trade settlements now that it can provide these services to regional businesses within an established regulatory framework.
For companies in the Middle East, this means the ability to settle transactions in seconds instead of days, through a trusted, licensed issuer.
As part of its regional expansion, Circle appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Jaffar, currently a senior manager at Visa, will lead Circle’s regional strategy, develop institutional partnerships, and work to expand the use of USDC in business payments and financial infrastructure.