- The ADGM license enables Circle to provide fully regulated USDC stablecoin services in the UAE.
- Circle expands its reach with institutional payment and settlement rails.
- The UAE strengthens its position as a hub for compliant digital assets.
Circle has secured a major foothold in the Middle East after receiving full approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate USDC services under comprehensive regulatory oversight.
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
The approval marks one of the company’s most significant international expansions and highlights the UAE’s rapidly growing role as a center for regulated digital assets.
A strategic license with broad scope
The new Financial Services Permission granted by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority authorizes Circle to operate as a fully regulated Money Services Provider within Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone.
This approval gives Circle a formal operational base in one of the world’s most active jurisdictions for digital asset regulation.
Under the license, Circle can offer payment, settlement, and digital asset services directly linked to USDC to businesses and financial institutions.
Operating within a clear regulatory framework enables Circle to support wholesale payments, cross-border settlement rails, and custody-related services with institutional compliance standards.
It also reinforces 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 has actively courted companies building fiat-linked tokens, tokenized financial services, and enterprise-grade payments infrastructure. Abu Dhabi, in particular, has positioned itself as a leading hub for compliant crypto activity, and Circle’s arrival strengthens that strategy.
The UAE has built a reputation for providing clear rules for stablecoins and digital finance firms, making it an attractive destination for global platforms seeking regulatory certainty.
Circle’s expansion follows a wave of clearer regulation for stablecoins globally, including the introduction of the GENIUS Act in the United States, which established a federal framework for issuing and supervising fiat-backed tokens.
The GENIUS Act spurred a new round of stablecoin initiatives from major U.S. financial institutions, increasing demand for licensed, enterprise-ready providers such as Circle.
The UAE’s dual financial zones have aligned on stablecoin oversight as well.
Earlier this year, Dubai recognized USDC and EURC under the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s crypto token regime, giving Circle regulatory support across the country’s two major jurisdictions.
Tether’s USDT has also been recognized as an approved fiat-referenced token across multiple blockchains, while Binance recently obtained full permission to operate its flagship platform under ADGM supervision.
Those approvals reflect a deliberate move toward a more structured and transparent digital asset market in the UAE.
Circle strengthens regional strategy with senior 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 under a recognized regulatory framework.
For Middle East companies, this means the possibility of settling transactions in seconds rather than days through a trusted, regulated issuer.
As part of its regional commitment, Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Jaffar, who currently serves as a senior executive at Visa, will lead Circle’s regional strategy, cultivate institutional partnerships, and work to expand USDC use in corporate payments and financial infrastructure.