#USDC✅ #Circle #UAE #AbuDhabiCrypto #Stablecoins
Key Notes:
Circle has obtained a license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority to operate as a financial services provider.
With this license, Circle says it intends to expand its regulated payment and settlement services in the UAE.
USDC issuer Circle has taken a major step in its expansion in the Middle East by securing a financial services license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority, enabling it to operate as a financial services provider.
The New York-registered stablecoin company announced on Tuesday that it plans to expand its regulated payment and settlement services in the United Arab Emirates for businesses, developers, and financial institutions.
"The [ADGM] framework sets high standards for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection—standards that enable trusted stablecoins to support real-world payments and finance at internet scale," said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle. "Regulatory clarity is the foundation of a more open and efficient internet financial system."
CEO and Founder the digital currency company Circle
As part of its regional expansion, Circle has appointed Saeeda Jaffar as managing director for the Middle East and Africa. Jaffar joins from Visa, where she had experience in the region and served as senior vice president and group manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Jaffar is expected to lead Circle's strategy and institutional partnerships to drive the adoption of dollar stablecoins and on-chain payment infrastructure across the UAE and the wider MEA region.
Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region
Meanwhile, Circle shares closed down 1.94% at $83.96 on Monday, according to The Block's price page. Its shares have fallen 22% over the past six months.
Circle's announcement closely follows important regulatory developments in Abu Dhabi involving major crypto companies.
On Monday, Tether received recognition for USDT as a fiat reference token accepted within ADGM, enabling licensed companies to offer regulated activities involving stablecoins across various networks, including Aptos, Cosmos, TON, and TRON.
On the same day, Binance announced that it had obtained full authorization for its global platform, Binance.com, to operate under the ADGM regime. The exchange will operate three licensed entities — an exchange, a clearing house, and a broker-dealer. Operations are scheduled to commence on January 5, 2026.
Source: X Binance, Binance collaboration with ADGM
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
