Key Highlights
- Circle secures ADGM FSP license in the UAE to expand payment and settlement services for businesses and financial institutions.
- Circle appoints Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as MD for Middle East & Africa to lead regional strategy and digital dollar adoption.
- Circle joins Binance in the UAE, following a growing list of global crypto firms operating under Abu Dhabi’s regulated framework.
Circle Internet Group, a global internet finance company, has made a significant move into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by obtaining a license as a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
With the license in place, Circle intends to extend the payment and settlement offering for business customers and financial institutions within the UAE.
According to the official press release, this move follows its earlier recognition in Dubai, where its stablecoins USDC and EURC were accepted under the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s crypto framework.
Leadership and regulatory support
Alongside this regulatory milestone, Circle has appointed Dr Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director (MD) for its Middle East and Africa operations. Dr Jaffar joins from Visa, where she was Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf region. She will lead Circle’s strategy in the region, work with financial institutions, and promote the use of digital dollars and on-chain payment solutions.
Circle’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, pointed out that regulatory clarity is key to building a trusted and efficient digital finance system. He welcomed Dr Jaffar, noting, “Her deep regional expertise, strategic vision and reputation for building high-performing partnerships will be invaluable as we expand our presence in the UAE and MEA.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM’s Chief Market Development Officer, also emphasized that Circle’s regulated presence aligns with the UAE’s push for responsible innovation in digital assets.
Moreover, Circle’s activities in the UAE reflect the broader trend of regulated digital finance gaining ground in the region, as governments aim to balance innovation with consumer protection.
In July 2024, Circle became the first global stablecoin issuer to secure an EU Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license under the MiCA framework. This license allows Circle to offer USDC and EURC to European customers, marking a key step in mainstream crypto adoption.
On December 8, 2025, Binance received its ADGM license, and Circle is now joining the growing list of global crypto firms operating under Abu Dhabi’s regulated digital-asset framework.
Circle’s Arc Blockchain
In October, Circle unveiled the public testnet of its latest blockchain, Arc, built for real-world financial use cases ranging from payments to lending and asset trading.
Arc is a Layer-1 blockchain that aims to make transactions faster and more predictable. It boasts dollar-denominated fees that are attractive to financial institutions. Already testing the network are major banks and tech companies such as BlackRock, HSBC, State Street, AWS, and Coinbase.
In late October 2025, South Korea’s digital asset custodian, BDACS, partnered with Circle in launching its won-backed stablecoin, KRW1, on the Arc blockchain. After earlier launching the KRW1 on Avalanche, the latest development has furthered Korea’s entry into the global stablecoin network.
Recent regulatory approvals for Circle, blockchain developments, and global partnerships reflect a broader trend of digital finance becoming increasingly regulated and integrated worldwide.
