Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) has secured a significant regulatory foothold in the United Arab Emirates, winning a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a Money Services Provider in the International Financial Centre.
The milestone advances Circle’s regional strategy to expand regulated on-chain payment and settlement services across the UAE and the broader Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Circle said the license will enable it to support businesses, financial institutions, and developers with trusted digital-dollar solutions, including the on-chain stablecoin USDC and other fiat-referenced tokens.
As part of the push into the region, Circle named Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for Circle Middle East & Africa. Dr. Jaffar joins from Visa, where she held senior regional leadership roles, and will lead Circle’s market strategy, deepen local partnerships, and accelerate adoption of regulated digital payment rails across the Gulf and broader MEA markets.
Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, welcomed the ADGM approval and Dr. Jaffar’s appointment, saying regulatory clarity is “the foundation of a more open and efficient internet financial system.”
Allaire emphasized that the FSRA’s framework supports transparency, risk management, and consumer protection, principles Circle says are essential for scaling stablecoins in real-world payments.
ADGM officials framed the move as further evidence of the UAE’s push to build an institutional-grade digital asset ecosystem.
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, praised Circle’s regulatory-first approach and said the firm’s licensed presence in ADGM will help boost market confidence and real-world use cases.
The ADGM FSP license complements recent UAE developments, including DFSA recognition of fiat-referenced stablecoins earlier this year, underlining the country’s drive to create clear rules for digital assets.
Circle said the combination of regulation and local leadership will position it to advance on-chain payments and settlement across the region. Circle said it will now focus on product integrations, compliance, and regional partner onboarding immediately.