Circle Gets UAE ADGM License — Eyes MEA Expansion

Circle Internet Group has secured a Financial Services Permission license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market, marking a significant regulatory milestone in the United Arab Emirates. The NYSE-listed company can now operate as a Money Services Provider within the International Financial Centre.

The December 9 announcement positions Circle to expand regulated payment and settlement services across the UAE. Businesses, developers, and financial institutions will gain access to trusted digital dollar solutions within a compliant framework.

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

— Circle (@circle) December 9, 2025

Circle has simultaneously appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa region. She joins from Visa, where she held the position of Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Dr. Jaffar will lead Circle’s regional strategy and deepen partnerships with financial institutions. Her mandate includes accelerating onchain payment solution adoption across the broader MEA markets.

Circle Leadership Welcomes Regulatory Framework

Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Circle, emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity in building an efficient internet financial system. He praised ADGM’s framework for setting high standards in transparency, risk management, and consumer protection.

Their framework sets a high bar for transparency, risk management, and consumer protection, standards that enable trusted stablecoins to power real-world payments and finance at internet scale

Allaire stated

Allaire also welcomed Dr. Jaffar to the team. He highlighted her regional expertise and track record of building high-performing partnerships as assets for Circle’s MEA expansion plans.

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, noted Circle’s regulatory-first approach aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision. The UAE aims to enable safe, scalable adoption of digital assets across its financial system.

Circle’s regulated presence in ADGM reinforces our ambition to build a trusted, institutional-grade digital asset ecosystem in Abu Dhabi

Ramamurthy said.

He added this supports the UAE’s position as a leading hub for regulated digital finance.

UAE Builds Comprehensive Crypto Regulatory Framework

Circle’s license arrives amid broader regulatory developments in the UAE. Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025 introduced sweeping requirements for decentralized finance and Web3 operations. The legislation took effect on September 16, 2025.

The central bank law now regulates financial institutions, insurance businesses, and digital asset-related activities. It establishes licensing requirements enforced by the Central Bank of the UAE for crypto payments and digital stored value operations.

Irina Heaver, founder of NeosLegal and local crypto lawyer, described the law as consequential for the region’s crypto industry. Projects have until September 2026 to align their systems with the new framework.

Meanwhile, Circle continues expanding its global partnerships. On December 8, Bybit announced a strategic partnership with Circle to advance global USDC adoption. The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange will enhance USDC liquidity across spot and derivatives markets.

Bybit 🤝 Circle
We’re partnering with @circle to broaden global access to one of the most trusted stablecoins.

Together, we’ll enhance USDC liquidity, streamline on/off-ramps, and unlock more real-world utility for our users, with transparency and safety at the core.

Read more:… pic.twitter.com/saV88G8Hnn

— Bybit (@Bybit_Official) December 8, 2025

The Bybit partnership extends to fiat on- and off-ramp solutions. Users will benefit from greater speed and efficiency when converting between local currencies and digital assets.

Bybit plans to integrate USDC across its ecosystem, including Bybit Earn, Bybit Card, and Bybit Pay. The exchange also joined the public testnet of Circle’s Arc network, a layer-1 blockchain built for stablecoin-native finance.

Arc’s public testnet launched in October 2025 with participation from over one hundred companies. The network received engagement from across the financial system with global participation and deep infrastructure support.

Circle’s ADGM license represents another step in the company’s mission to deliver trusted digital dollars onchain. The UAE’s clear rules for fiat-referenced tokens create an environment for institutional-grade digital asset services to flourish.