Circle Secures Full ADGM License: USDC Set to Dominate UAE’s Digital Finance Landscape

Circle just got the golden ticket to the UAE's financial playground. The full license from Abu Dhabi's Global Market regulator isn't just paperwork—it's a direct pipeline for USDC to flow into one of the world's most ambitious financial hubs.

The Regulatory Green Light

Forget sandboxes and experimental phases. This is a full operational license, the kind that lets institutions move real money without looking over their shoulders. The ADGM didn't just open a door; it rolled out the red carpet for a dollar-pegged digital asset to become a core piece of regional finance.

Why the UAE Wants a Digital Dollar

Cross-border payments that take minutes, not days. Corporate treasuries that can move at internet speed. The promise isn't just about technology—it's about stripping out the friction and fees that traditional banking layers on every transaction. The region's push into a digital economy gets a serious accelerator.

The Ripple Effect

Watch other stablecoins scramble for similar approvals. Watch local banks and fintechs suddenly have a compliant, programmable dollar to build on. This isn't an isolated win for Circle; it's a signal that major regulators are picking their horses in the race to tokenize the global monetary system. One cynical finance veteran might note it's another case of institutions embracing the very technology they spent years dismissing—once they figure out how to control it.

The message is clear: the digital dollar isn't coming. It's already here, and it's setting up shop in the desert.

Circle Gains Full Regulatory Entry Into UAE’s Fast-Growing Crypto Hub

The license grants Circle the ability to offer regulated payment, settlement, and digital-asset services tied to USDC, giving the company a formal operating presence inside one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for compliant crypto activity.

The MOVE comes as the UAE continues to position itself as a global center for digital-asset regulation, with ADGM leading efforts to attract firms seeking clear rules for fiat-referenced tokens and tokenized financial services.

As part of its expansion, Circle appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.

Dr. Jaffar, currently a senior executive at Visa overseeing the GCC region, will join Circle to guide its strategy, build regional partnerships, and push for broader adoption of USDC in business payments and financial infrastructure across the UAE and beyond.

Circle expands its regulatory footprint in the UAE

Announced at Abu Dhabi Finance Week:
→ Secured an @ADGlobalMarket FSRA Financial Services Permission to operate as a Money Services Provider

This milestone builds on USDC and EURC being the first stablecoins recognized by… pic.twitter.com/BCSDOpo3mb

“Regulatory clarity is the foundation of a more open and efficient internet financial system. We are honored to work with the FSRA in ADGM,” Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire said.

With the license in hand, Circle plans to expand regulated USDC use in corporate payments, settlement rails and developer infrastructure across the region.

The announcement also follows Dubai’s earlier recognition of USDC and EURC under the DFSA’s crypto token regime, giving Circle regulatory footing across both of the UAE’s major financial zones.

Stablecoins have also surged in mainstream adoption since President Donald TRUMP signed the GENIUS Act into law in July, establishing a federal framework for their issuance and oversight.

The law’s passage triggered a wave of new stablecoin initiatives from major financial institutions, including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Robinhood.

Tether, Binance Secure Regulatory Approval in ADGM

As reported, Tether’s USDT stablecoin has also secured regulatory recognition as an approved fiat-referenced token across a wide range of blockchains inside the ADGM.

Tether said ADGM now permits licensed institutions in the financial free zone to conduct regulated activities involving USDT across Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON and TRON.

These approvals expand on earlier recognition for USDT on Ethereum, solana and Avalanche.

On Monday, Binance disclosed that it has also secured full authorization to operate its flagship Binance.com platform under ADGM oversight, a milestone that comes after years of regulatory scrutiny.

Binance will operate through three distinct legal entities in the zone, an exchange, a clearing house and a broker-dealer, reflecting a traditional financial-market structure designed to enable regulated trading, custody, settlement and off-exchange services.