Circle has secured a full Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, granting the company formal approval to operate as a Money Services Provider within the international financial centre. The licence elevates Circle’s position in the UAE from its initial in-principle approval received earlier this year, giving the company the regulatory clarity required to offer compliant payment and settlement services using its USDC stablecoin.
The company disclosed that the approval allows it to support institutions, fintechs and enterprises seeking regulated on-chain payment infrastructure. With the licence in place, Circle can directly integrate its stablecoin and payment tools into the UAE’s financial ecosystem under clear supervision, a step that strengthens its credibility among regional banks and corporates that prioritise regulated digital-asset frameworks.
The licence also introduces an opportunity for deeper financial connectivity between the Gulf and regions such as Africa, where dollar-stablecoins already play a role in commerce, remittances and cross-border trade. By bringing USDC under formal oversight in Abu Dhabi, Circle offers regional and international businesses a regulated digital-dollar option that may reduce settlement friction, lower costs and support more efficient payment corridors. This strengthens ADGM’s position as a credible hub for stablecoin innovation and reinforces the role of compliant digital assets in global finance.
Alongside the regulatory approval, Circle appointed Dr Saeeda Jaffar, previously a senior executive at Visa across the GCC, as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. Her mandate includes building institutional partnerships, expanding USDC adoption and driving engagements across banking, payments and enterprise finance.
According to the company’s public disclosures, the ADGM framework’s governance and compliance standards were central to Circle’s decision to deepen its presence in the UAE. The licence gives regulated entities in Abu Dhabi the ability to explore USDC for payments, cross-border settlements and treasury operations without relying on offshore structures or unlicensed providers.
Circle’s expansion in Abu Dhabi is expected to accelerate collaboration with regional banks, fintech platforms and cross-border payment companies as demand grows for transparent, low-cost and compliant digital-dollar rails. The licence marks one of the most significant regulatory steps for a global stablecoin issuer in the UAE to date, setting the stage for broader institutional adoption of USDC across the Middle East and connected markets.
Read also: How African startups are deploying blockchain to rebuild trust and transparency in supply chains
