Overview
- Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority granted Circle a Financial Services Permission to operate as a Money Services Provider in the free zone.
- The authorization opens the door for USDC to be used in business payments, settlements and other financial use cases across the United Arab Emirates.
- Circle named Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as managing director for the Middle East and Africa, bringing experience from her senior roles at Visa.
- The step builds on Dubai recognition earlier this year, where USDC and EURC were registered under the DFSA’s crypto regime, as well as Circle’s prior Abu Dhabi incorporation.
- UAE regulators have recently cleared other major players, including formal approvals for Binance and initiatives tied to AE Coin and Tether, reinforcing the country’s regulated digital‑asset push.