Circle Receives Abu Dhabi Global Market FSP Approval to Operate USDC in Middle East and Africa

The stablecoin issuer Circle has secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority, enabling Circle to operate as a money services provider within the Abu Dhabi International Financial Center (IFC). The approval expands Circle’s regulatory foothold in the region and signals a commitment to rigorous compliance standards for cross-border payments and settlement services.

In tandem with the regulatory milestone, Circle appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for Circle in the Middle East and Africa. Jaffar, a former Senior Vice President at Visa and GCC Group Country Manager, will lead regional strategy, partnerships, and regulatory engagement to support Circle’s expansion across MEA.