Circle Wins Full ADGM License to Expand USDC Across the UAE

Circle Internet Group, Inc., one of the leading internet financial companies in the world, has secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to provide USDC services in the UAE. The licence issued by the ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) allows Circle to operate as a money services provider within the financial free zone.  After receiving the approval, Circle has now officially entered the UAE’s fast-growing crypto hub. According to Circle’s official press release, following the licence approval, Circle is now able to provide regulated payment, settlement, and digital-asset services tied to USDC. 

Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, the former manager at payments firm Visa, as Managing Director for Circle Middle East & Africa (MEA) to lead the project in the Middle East region. Dr. Saeeda Jaffar was the former Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). She will be directly involved in the company’s regional strategies, including deepening partnerships and collaboration with financial institutions and enterprises. She will also oversee the strategies to accelerate the adoption of trusted digital assets and on-chain payment solutions across the United Arab Emirates.  

The latest approval from ADGM is attributed to the UAE’s move to position itself as a global hub for regulated digital assets. Market experts claim that the UAE has recently emerged as a global hub for regulated digital assets business, and the approval of Circle and its USDC services is no exception. Circle’s officials approached it positively and are excited about the collaboration with the UAE internet financial sector. 

 Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Circle, stated that regulatory clarity formed the foundation of a more open and efficient internet financial system. He said the company was honored to work with the FSRA in ADGM, noting that its framework set a high bar for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection, standards that enabled trusted stablecoins to power real-world payments and finance at internet scale. He added that he was delighted to welcome Dr. Saeeda Jaffar to Circle, emphasizing that her deep regional expertise, strategic vision, and reputation for building high-performing partnerships would be invaluable as the firm expanded its presence in the UAE and MEA. 

“Circle’s regulated presence in ADGM Helps Build a Trusted Ecosystem In Abu Dhabi, says ADGM Chief Market Development Officer

ADGM gave a warm welcome to Circle, claiming that they were excited to collaborate with the leading internet financial service provider. Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority recently approved Binance to provide exchange, clearing, and brokerage operations in the region. These innovative strategies clearly indicate Abu Dhabi’s stance on the regulated digital asset operations. 

Following the approval of Circle, the UAE now allows using the USDC stablecoin in business payments, financial uses, and settlements across the UAE. Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, said that Circle’s regulatory-first approach aligned with ADGM’s commitment to responsible innovation. He noted that with clear rules for fiat‑referenced tokens, the UAE was enabling the safe and scalable adoption of digital assets across the financial system. He added that Circle’s regulated presence in ADGM reinforced the ambition to build a trusted, institutional‑grade digital asset ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, one that enhanced market confidence, supported real‑world use cases, and cemented the UAE’s role as a leading hub for regulated digital finance.

According to the latest reports, Tether’s USDT stablecoin has also secured regulatory approval, and ADGM has approved fiat-referenced tokens across a wide range of blockchains within the region. Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, said that introducing USDT within ADGM’s regulated digital asset framework reinforced the role of stablecoins as essential components of today’s financial landscape. He also added that the recent moves from the regulators strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a digital asset hub. 

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