- The ADGM license allows Circle to offer fully regulated USDC stablecoin services in the United Arab Emirates.
- Circle is expanding its reach with institutional payments and financial settlement services.
- The United Arab Emirates has strengthened its position as a hub for compliant digital asset activity.
Circle has secured a significant foothold in the Middle East after receiving full regulatory approval from 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
The approval represents one of the company’s most important international expansions and reinforces the UAE’s rapidly growing role as a regulated digital asset hub.
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.
The approval gives Circle an official operational base in one of the world’s most active jurisdictions for digital asset regulation.
The license permits Circle to deliver payment, settlement and digital-asset services directly linked to USDC for businesses and financial institutions.
Operating under a clear regulatory framework, Circle can now support wholesale payments, cross-border settlement rails and custody-related services with institutional-grade compliance standards.
This further solidifies ADGM’s growing reputation as a safe and predictable regulatory environment for digital asset firms.
Boost to the UAE’s digital-asset ambitions
The United Arab Emirates is actively courting companies building fiat-backed tokens, tokenized financial services and enterprise-grade payment infrastructure. Abu Dhabi, in particular, has positioned itself as a leading center for compliant crypto activity, and Circle’s arrival reinforces that strategy.
The UAE has developed 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 comes as stablecoins gain a more formal regulatory footing globally, following the passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States, which created a federal framework for issuing and supervising fiat-backed tokens.
The GENIUS Act sparked a wave of stablecoin initiatives among major U.S. financial institutions, increasing demand for authorized enterprise-ready providers like Circle.
Both of the UAE’s financial zones are aligning on stablecoin supervision.
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 main jurisdictions.
Tether’s USDT has also been recognized as an approved fiat-referenced token on multiple blockchains, while Binance recently obtained 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 senior appointment
Circle anticipates immediate opportunities to enable faster corporate payments, treasury operations and commercial settlements, now that it can provide these services to regional businesses under a recognized regulatory structure.
For Middle Eastern companies, this means the ability to settle transactions in seconds rather than days, using an issuer that is both trusted and authorized.
As part of its regional push, Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Jaffar, a senior executive at Visa, will lead Circle’s regional strategy, build institutional partnerships and work to expand USDC adoption in corporate payments and financial infrastructure.