Circle Secures Abu Dhabi License for UAE Stablecoin Entry

TLDR:

• Circle receives ADGM Financial Services Permission to operate as a Money Services Provider.
• Dr. Saeeda Jaffar appointed MD for Middle East & Africa to lead regional strategy.
• License enables regulated stablecoin payments and settlement solutions across the UAE.
• Circle builds on DIFC recognition of USDC and EURC as the first compliant stablecoins.

Circle has strengthened its presence in the United Arab Emirates by securing a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). 

This license allows the company to operate as a Money Services Provider within the International Financial Centre (IFC) of Abu Dhabi. The development positions Circle to expand regulated digital dollar services and stablecoin adoption across the UAE and the broader Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

The milestone builds on earlier recognition of Circle’s stablecoins USDC and EURC by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). 

These developments reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to provide transparent, compliant, and scalable solutions for on-chain payments and enterprise use cases. Circle emphasized that regulatory clarity remains essential for the growth of a trusted digital financial ecosystem.

Leadership and Strategic Expansion in the Region

Alongside obtaining the license, Circle announced the appointment of Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for Circle Middle East & Africa. 

Dr. Jaffar, previously Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager at Visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council, will lead regional strategy, strengthen partnerships, and drive adoption of digital dollars in the UAE and MEA.

Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s Co-Founder and CEO, noted: “Regulatory clarity is the foundation of a more open and efficient internet financial system. We are honored to work with the FSRA in ADGM.

Their framework sets a high bar for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection standards that enable trusted stablecoins to power real-world payments and finance at internet scale.”

Dr. Jaffar will oversee initiatives that enhance institutional collaboration and accelerate the use of stablecoins in payments and enterprise applications. 

Circle emphasized that her regional expertise will be instrumental in reinforcing trust and compliance in the rapidly evolving digital finance market.

Supporting UAE’s Digital Asset Framework

The FSP license enables Circle to expand regulated payment and settlement solutions in the UAE. 

Circle aims to deliver trusted digital dollars for businesses, developers, and financial institutions while aligning with ADGM’s commitment to responsible innovation.

Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM Chief Market Development Officer, stated: “Circle’s regulatory-first approach aligns with ADGM’s commitment to responsible innovation.

With clear rules for fiat-referenced tokens, the UAE is enabling the safe, scalable adoption of digital assets across the financial system.”

The company highlighted in a tweet that this milestone reinforces its mission to provide transparent, compliant, and efficient on-chain payment solutions. 

By building on the earlier recognition of USDC and EURC in Dubai, Circle continues to support the UAE’s vision of a regulated, innovation-driven digital finance ecosystem.

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