Key Takeaways

• Circle Internet Group, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has secured a Financial Services Permission license from the ADGM to operate as a Money Services Provider in Abu Dhabi.

• The license deepens Circle’s expansion into the UAE, allowing it to offer services under a regulatory framework praised by CEO Jeremy Allaire for its high standards of transparency and risk management.

• The approval comes amid a wave of licenses granted by the ADGM to major crypto players like Tether and Binance, cementing the UAE’s strategy to become a dominant global crypto hub.

Circle Obtains Financial Services License in Abu Dhabi

USDC issuer Circle is officially taking on the Middle East, securing a huge regulatory win in Abu Dhabi. They just landed a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the ADGM, which essentially lets them operate as a fully authorized Money Services Provider in this major global financial center. This is a massive step that solidifies Circle’s long-term plan for the UAE and the entire Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

To show they aren’t playing games, Circle went straight to the top for talent: they hired Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, a heavy-hitting Senior VP from Visa, to be their Managing Director for the entire MEA region. Her job is simple—run the strategy and secure those crucial local partnerships, which proves Circle knows that local expertise is everything.

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire was quick to give huge credit to the ADGM regulators, calling their framework top-tier because it “sets a high bar for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection.” He is convinced that only these strong standards will allow USDC to be the “trusted stablecoin” that finally runs global finance.

ADGM’s Wave of Crypto and Stablecoin Licenses

Circle‘s regulatory achievement is part of a broader, concerted effort by the ADGM to attract leading digital asset companies. The timing of the license follows a flurry of approvals granted by the financial center in recent weeks.

In the stablecoin space, Circle’s primary competitor, Tether’s USDt, recently secured a regulatory milestone by being recognized as an “accepted fiat-referenced token,” following a similar designation for Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD.

In the exchange sector, the ADGM granted Binance three separate licenses for exchange, clearing house, and broker-dealer services, building on the earlier approval for its competitor Bybit.

The UAE’s Aggressive Digital Asset Strategy

The ADGM’s firm action is just one part of the UAE’s all-out bid to become the world’s go-to crypto capital. The UAE Central Bank is not playing around; they’ve been laying down clear, comprehensive new rules that now cover everything from decentralized finance (DeFi) to the entire Web3 space.

What’s the big legal news? The new Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025 makes it mandatory for DeFi platforms and infrastructure providers to get licenses if they offer services like payments, lending, or custody—no more loopholes. On the tax side, they’ve made crypto even more attractive by exempting transfers and conversions from VAT. By giving the industry clear rules, great tax incentives, and strict enforcement, the UAE is building a truly structured ecosystem aimed at winning institutional trust and pushing digital assets into the mainstream faster than anyone else.

Final Thoughts

Landing the Money Services Provider license in the ADGM is a huge win for Circle—and a massive endorsement for the UAE. It instantly boosts Abu Dhabi’s reputation as one of the world’s most trusted and regulated financial centers for digital assets. By bringing in major players like Circle, the ADGM is proving it is building the secure, compliant foundation needed for stablecoins to operate reliably on a truly global scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific license did Circle receive?
A Financial Services Permission license from the ADGM’s FSRA to operate as a Money Services Provider.

What is the significance of the ADGM’s regulatory framework?
It is praised for setting a high bar for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection, which is vital for trusted stablecoins.

What other crypto companies have recently received ADGM approval?
Major stablecoin competitor Tether (USDt) and top crypto exchange Binance have also recently secured key licenses.