Circle Secures Regulatory Approval in Abu Dhabi for USDC Expansion

Circle Internet Financial, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has obtained In-Principle Approval from Abu Dhabi’s financial regulator to operate as a money services provider. The move signals the UAE’s accelerating embrace of digital asset innovation.

Abu Dhabi Global Market’s FSRA granted the preliminary license, positioning Circle to eventually offer regulated crypto services in the Middle Eastern financial hub. CEO Jeremy Allaire called the development a strategic milestone, underscoring the region’s importance in global digital finance.

The approval follows growing institutional interest in dollar-pegged stablecoins across emerging markets. While not yet a full operating license, the IPA establishes Circle’s regulatory foothold in a jurisdiction increasingly competing with traditional crypto centers.