diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/AGENTS.md b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/AGENTS.md
index a35e5d1ce10..fa83f86a675 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/AGENTS.md
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/AGENTS.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/
     user_api_key_auth_mcp.py # LiteLLM admission auth and MCP request headers
     token_exchange.py        # OAuth token exchange handling                    [unchanged; V1TokenExchangeAdapter delegates here]
     litellm_auth_handler.py  # authenticated-user adapter for MCP sessions
+  client_allowlist.py        # gateway-level client application allowlist (mcp_allowed_clients); leaf module, no litellm.proxy imports
   outbound_credentials/      # NEW — typed upstream-credential resolution (resolve_credentials + arms)
     __init__.py              # public surface: resolve_credentials, the configs, CredError
     result.py                # Ok | Error union (pure stdlib)
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/client_allowlist.py b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/client_allowlist.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..524642600b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/client_allowlist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+"""
+Gateway-level allowlist of MCP client applications (``general_settings.mcp_allowed_clients``).
+
+Each entry pairs an admin-chosen ``alias`` (shown in the dashboard and logs) with the ``value`` that
+identifies the client. Only the value is compared, exactly and case-sensitively.
+A caller that authenticated with a JWT is identified by the claim named in
+``litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field``, a value asserted by the identity provider.
+Every other caller is identified by the header named in ``general_settings.mcp_client_id_header``,
+which the client picks itself, so that source is a policy control rather than a security boundary.
+While the allowlist is set, a caller with no usable identity source is rejected.
+"""
+
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from types import MappingProxyType
+from typing import Final, Literal
+
+from pydantic import TypeAdapter, ValidationError
+from typing_extensions import ReadOnly, TypedDict
+
+from litellm._logging import verbose_logger
+from litellm.litellm_core_utils.dot_notation_indexing import get_nested_value
+from litellm.types.mcp import MCPAllowedClient
+
+MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING: Final = "mcp_allowed_clients"
+MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING: Final = "mcp_client_id_header"
+MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING: Final = "mcp_client_id_jwt_field"
+_JWT_AUTH_SETTING: Final = "litellm_jwtauth"
+
+_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_ADAPTER: Final[TypeAdapter[list[MCPAllowedClient]]] = TypeAdapter(list[MCPAllowedClient])
+_OPTIONAL_NAME_ADAPTER: Final[TypeAdapter[str | None]] = TypeAdapter(str | None)
+_OPTIONAL_MAPPING_ADAPTER: Final[TypeAdapter[dict[str, object] | None]] = TypeAdapter(dict[str, object] | None)
+_NOBODY: Final[Mapping[str, str]] = MappingProxyType({})
+
+
+class MCPClientForbiddenBody(TypedDict):
+    error: ReadOnly[Literal["Forbidden"]]
+    details: ReadOnly[str]
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class MCPClientAllowlist:
+    """``aliases_by_value`` maps each admitted identity value to the alias the admin gave it."""
+
+    aliases_by_value: Mapping[str, str]
+    jwt_field: str | None
+    header: str | None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class MCPClientIdentity:
+    client_id: str
+    source: Literal["jwt", "header"]
+    source_name: str
+
+    @property
+    def description(self) -> str:
+        return f"'{self.client_id}' (from {'JWT claim' if self.source == 'jwt' else 'header'} '{self.source_name}')"
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class MCPClientRejection:
+    details: str
+
+    @property
+    def response_body(self) -> MCPClientForbiddenBody:
+        body: Final[MCPClientForbiddenBody] = {"error": "Forbidden", "details": self.details}
+        return body
+
+
+def _unidentified_rejection(reason: str) -> MCPClientRejection:
+    return MCPClientRejection(
+        details=f"{reason} This gateway only admits client applications listed in {MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING}."
+    )
+
+
+def parse_allowed_mcp_clients(raw_setting: object) -> Mapping[str, str] | None:
+    """Value-to-alias mapping; None when the setting is absent (not enforced). A malformed setting admits nobody."""
+    if raw_setting is None:
+        return None
+    try:
+        clients: Final = _ALLOWED_CLIENTS_ADAPTER.validate_python(raw_setting)
+    except ValidationError:
+        verbose_logger.warning(
+            "%s is not a list of {alias, value} entries (%r); rejecting every MCP client until it is fixed",
+            MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING,
+            raw_setting,
+        )
+        return _NOBODY
+    return MappingProxyType({client.value: client.alias for client in clients})
+
+
+def _parse_optional_name(setting_name: str, raw_setting: object) -> str | None:
+    try:
+        name: Final = _OPTIONAL_NAME_ADAPTER.validate_python(raw_setting)
+    except ValidationError:
+        verbose_logger.warning("%s is not a string (%r); ignoring it", setting_name, raw_setting)
+        return None
+    return name or None
+
+
+def _jwt_field_from_general_settings(general_settings: Mapping[str, object]) -> str | None:
+    try:
+        jwt_auth: Final = _OPTIONAL_MAPPING_ADAPTER.validate_python(general_settings.get(_JWT_AUTH_SETTING))
+    except ValidationError:
+        return None
+    if jwt_auth is None:
+        return None
+    return _parse_optional_name(
+        f"{_JWT_AUTH_SETTING}.{MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING}", jwt_auth.get(MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING)
+    )
+
+
+def load_mcp_client_allowlist(general_settings: Mapping[str, object]) -> MCPClientAllowlist | None:
+    """None when ``mcp_allowed_clients`` is unset, which admits every client."""
+    allowed_clients: Final = parse_allowed_mcp_clients(general_settings.get(MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING))
+    if allowed_clients is None:
+        return None
+    header: Final = _parse_optional_name(
+        MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING, general_settings.get(MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING)
+    )
+    return MCPClientAllowlist(
+        aliases_by_value=allowed_clients,
+        jwt_field=_jwt_field_from_general_settings(general_settings),
+        header=header.lower() if header is not None else None,
+    )
+
+
+def resolve_mcp_client_identity(
+    allowlist: MCPClientAllowlist,
+    jwt_claims: Mapping[str, object] | None,
+    headers: Mapping[str, str],
+) -> MCPClientIdentity | MCPClientRejection:
+    """A JWT caller is identified by its configured claim alone, so a header can never override the IdP."""
+    if jwt_claims is not None and allowlist.jwt_field is not None:
+        claim: Final[object] = get_nested_value(data=jwt_claims, key_path=allowlist.jwt_field)
+        if isinstance(claim, str) and claim:
+            return MCPClientIdentity(client_id=claim, source="jwt", source_name=allowlist.jwt_field)
+        return _unidentified_rejection(
+            f"The JWT presented has no '{allowlist.jwt_field}' claim naming the client application."
+        )
+    if allowlist.header is None:
+        configured: Final = (
+            f"litellm_jwtauth.{MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING} for JWT callers or {MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING}"
+        )
+        return _unidentified_rejection(
+            f"No client identity source is configured for this request; set {configured} in general_settings."
+        )
+    header_value: Final = headers.get(allowlist.header)
+    if header_value:
+        return MCPClientIdentity(client_id=header_value, source="header", source_name=allowlist.header)
+    return _unidentified_rejection(f"The request has no '{allowlist.header}' header naming the client application.")
+
+
+def check_mcp_client_allowed(
+    allowlist: MCPClientAllowlist | None,
+    jwt_claims: Mapping[str, object] | None,
+    headers: Mapping[str, str],
+) -> MCPClientRejection | None:
+    if allowlist is None:
+        return None
+    identity: Final = resolve_mcp_client_identity(allowlist, jwt_claims, headers)
+    if isinstance(identity, MCPClientRejection):
+        return identity
+    alias: Final = allowlist.aliases_by_value.get(identity.client_id)
+    if alias is None:
+        return MCPClientRejection(
+            details=f"MCP client {identity.description} is not listed in this gateway's {MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING}."
+        )
+    verbose_logger.debug("Admitted MCP client '%s' identified as %s", alias, identity.description)
+    return None
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/rest_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/rest_endpoints.py
index 6a0ab5bdec5..9d895d755dd 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/rest_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/rest_endpoints.py
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
         filter_tools_by_allowed_tools,
         filter_tools_by_key_team_permissions,
         fire_mcp_tool_call_failure_logging,
+        reject_disallowed_mcp_client,
     )
 
     ########################################################
@@ -875,6 +876,7 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
             MCPRequestHandler,
         )
 
+        reject_disallowed_mcp_client(request.headers, user_api_key_dict)
         try:
             mcp_server_name = _as_query_str(mcp_server_name)
             toolset_name = _as_query_str(toolset_name)
@@ -1078,6 +1080,7 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
             proxy_logging_obj,
         )
 
+        reject_disallowed_mcp_client(request.headers, user_api_key_dict)
         try:
             user_api_key_dict = await acting_user_auth(user_api_key_dict)
             data = await request.json()
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/server.py b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/server.py
index a7ca2775fb1..73366b701d2 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/server.py
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.byok_credential_cache import (
     cache_byok_credential,
     get_cached_byok_credential,
 )
+from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.client_allowlist import (
+    MCPClientAllowlist,
+    check_mcp_client_allowed,
+    load_mcp_client_allowlist,
+)
 from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.discoverable_endpoints import (
     get_request_base_url,
 )
@@ -72,6 +77,7 @@ from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.oauth_utils import (
     get_route_relative_request_path,
     well_known_root_suffix,
 )
+from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.ui_session_utils import is_ui_session_credential
 from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.utils import (
     LITELLM_MCP_SERVER_DESCRIPTION,
     LITELLM_MCP_SERVER_NAME,
@@ -3701,6 +3707,25 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
                         mcp_servers_from_path = [servers_and_path]
         return mcp_servers_from_path
 
+    def _load_mcp_client_allowlist() -> MCPClientAllowlist | None:
+        from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import general_settings
+
+        return load_mcp_client_allowlist(general_settings)
+
+    def reject_disallowed_mcp_client(headers: Mapping[str, str], user_api_key_auth: UserAPIKeyAuth | None) -> None:
+        """Gate every MCP tool surface on ``mcp_allowed_clients``; the dashboard's own session is not a client app."""
+        if user_api_key_auth is not None and is_ui_session_credential(user_api_key_auth):
+            return
+        rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(
+            allowlist=_load_mcp_client_allowlist(),
+            jwt_claims=user_api_key_auth.jwt_claims if user_api_key_auth is not None else None,
+            headers=headers,
+        )
+        if rejection is None:
+            return
+        verbose_logger.warning("Rejected MCP request from a disallowed client application: %s", rejection.details)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail=rejection.response_body)
+
     async def extract_mcp_auth_context(scope, path):
         """
         Extracts mcp_servers from the path and processes the MCP request for auth context.
@@ -4537,6 +4562,7 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
                 oauth2_headers,
                 raw_headers,
             ) = await extract_mcp_auth_context(scope, path)
+            reject_disallowed_mcp_client(StarletteRequest(scope).headers, user_api_key_auth)
             scoped_server_endpoint: Final = len(_get_mcp_servers_in_path(path) or []) == 1
 
             # Extract client IP for MCP access control
@@ -4865,6 +4891,7 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
                 oauth2_headers,
                 raw_headers,
             ) = await extract_mcp_auth_context(scope, path)
+            reject_disallowed_mcp_client(StarletteRequest(scope).headers, user_api_key_auth)
             scoped_server_endpoint: Final = len(_get_mcp_servers_in_path(path) or []) == 1
 
             # Extract client IP for MCP access control
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_types.py b/litellm/proxy/_types.py
index 0097d4b6e92..26c97fc58fa 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/_types.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_types.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from litellm.types.llms.openai import (
     ResponsesAPIResponse,
 )
 from litellm.types.mcp import (
+    MCPAllowedClient,
     MCPAuth,
     MCPAuthType,
     MCPCredentials,
@@ -2902,6 +2903,14 @@ class ConfigGeneralSettings(LiteLLMPydanticObjectBase):
         None,
         description="Custom CIDR ranges that define internal/private networks for MCP access control. When set, only these ranges are treated as internal. Defaults to RFC 1918 private ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16, 127.0.0.0/8).",
     )
+    mcp_allowed_clients: list[MCPAllowedClient] | None = Field(
+        None,
+        description="MCP client applications admitted by the gateway, each an {alias, value} pair where alias is the name shown in the dashboard and logs and value is the identity that must match exactly. When set, every MCP request must carry a client identity equal to one of the values: a JWT caller is identified by the claim named in litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field, any other caller by the header named in mcp_client_id_header. A request with no resolvable identity, or an unlisted one, is rejected with 403. Unset means every client is admitted.",
+    )
+    mcp_client_id_header: str | None = Field(
+        None,
+        description="Request header whose value names the calling MCP client application (for example 'x-mcp-client') for callers that did not authenticate with a JWT, used only while mcp_allowed_clients is set. The client picks this value itself, so it is a policy control rather than a security boundary; prefer litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field where callers use JWTs.",
+    )
     mcp_trusted_proxy_ranges: list[str] | None = Field(
         None,
         description="CIDR ranges of trusted reverse proxies. When set, X-Forwarded-For and X-Forwarded-* origin headers are only trusted from these IPs.",
@@ -5118,6 +5127,15 @@ class LiteLLM_JWTAuth(LiteLLMPydanticObjectBase):
             "then agent_name, and the request is rejected when it matches neither."
         ),
     )
+    mcp_client_id_jwt_field: str | None = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description=(
+            "The field in the JWT token that identifies the MCP client application (harness) making the request, "
+            "e.g. 'azp' or 'client_id'. Supports dot notation. Only consulted while general_settings.mcp_allowed_clients "
+            "is set: the claim value must be listed there or the MCP request is rejected with 403. Distinct from "
+            "agent_id_jwt_field, which identifies an AI agent rather than the client software."
+        ),
+    )
     public_key_ttl: float = 600
     public_key_stale_ttl: float = Field(
         default=DEFAULT_JWKS_STALE_TTL,
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index 009b8cb728f..7791f034fba 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -17249,6 +17249,8 @@ _GENERAL_SETTINGS_CONFIG_LIST_FIELD_TYPES: Final[Mapping[str, str]] = MappingPro
         "maximum_spend_logs_cleanup_run_budget": "String",
         "maximum_spend_logs_cleanup_batch_timeout": "String",
         "mcp_internal_ip_ranges": "List",
+        "mcp_allowed_clients": "TypedDictionary",
+        "mcp_client_id_header": "String",
         "mcp_trusted_proxy_ranges": "List",
         "mcp_xff_num_trusted_hops": "Integer",
         "always_include_stream_usage": "Boolean",
diff --git a/litellm/types/mcp.py b/litellm/types/mcp.py
index c5a26c997b7..e0fd3e9a69d 100644
--- a/litellm/types/mcp.py
+++ b/litellm/types/mcp.py
@@ -91,6 +91,22 @@ class MCPPublicServer(BaseModel):
     mcp_info: dict[str, Any] | None = None
 
 
+class MCPAllowedClient(BaseModel):
+    """One entry of `general_settings.mcp_allowed_clients`."""
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(frozen=True)
+
+    alias: str = Field(
+        min_length=1,
+        description="Human-readable name for this client application, shown in the dashboard and in gateway logs.",
+    )
+    value: str = Field(
+        min_length=1,
+        description="Exact value of the JWT claim named in litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field, or of the "
+        "mcp_client_id_header header, that identifies this client application. Matched case-sensitively.",
+    )
+
+
 class MCPToolSearchSettings(BaseModel):
     """`litellm_settings.mcp_tool_search`: how the native `mcp_tool_search` virtual tool ranks the caller's tools."""
 
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_client_allowlist.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_client_allowlist.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d1f852e504e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_client_allowlist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+from typing import Final
+
+import pytest
+
+from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.client_allowlist import (
+    MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING,
+    MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING,
+    MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING,
+    MCPClientAllowlist,
+    MCPClientIdentity,
+    MCPClientRejection,
+    check_mcp_client_allowed,
+    load_mcp_client_allowlist,
+    parse_allowed_mcp_clients,
+    resolve_mcp_client_identity,
+)
+
+ANTIGRAVITY: Final = {"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": "antigravity-cli"}
+CODEX: Final = {"alias": "Codex", "value": "codex-mcp-client"}
+ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY: Final[Mapping[str, str]] = {"antigravity-cli": "Antigravity CLI"}
+JWT_ONLY: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(aliases_by_value=ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, jwt_field="azp", header=None)
+HEADER_ONLY: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(aliases_by_value=ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, jwt_field=None, header="x-mcp-client")
+JWT_AND_HEADER: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(aliases_by_value=ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, jwt_field="azp", header="x-mcp-client")
+NO_SOURCE: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(aliases_by_value=ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, jwt_field=None, header=None)
+NO_HEADERS: Final[Mapping[str, str]] = {}
+
+
+_ALLOWLIST_SETTING_CASES: Final[tuple[tuple[object, Mapping[str, str] | None], ...]] = (
+    (None, None),
+    ([], {}),
+    ([ANTIGRAVITY], ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY),
+    ([ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX], {"antigravity-cli": "Antigravity CLI", "codex-mcp-client": "Codex"}),
+    (
+        [ANTIGRAVITY, {"alias": "Antigravity (prod)", "value": "antigravity-cli"}],
+        {"antigravity-cli": "Antigravity (prod)"},
+    ),
+    (
+        [ANTIGRAVITY, {"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": "antigravity-prod"}],
+        {**ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, "antigravity-prod": "Antigravity CLI"},
+    ),
+    (["antigravity-cli"], {}),
+    ("antigravity-cli", {}),
+    ([ANTIGRAVITY, 1], {}),
+    ([{"alias": "Antigravity CLI"}], {}),
+    ([{"value": "antigravity-cli"}], {}),
+    ([{"alias": "", "value": "antigravity-cli"}], {}),
+    ([{"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": ""}], {}),
+    ([{"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": ["antigravity-cli"]}], {}),
+    (ANTIGRAVITY, {}),
+)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("raw_setting", "expected"), _ALLOWLIST_SETTING_CASES)
+def test_parse_allowed_mcp_clients(raw_setting: object, expected: Mapping[str, str] | None) -> None:
+    assert parse_allowed_mcp_clients(raw_setting) == expected
+
+
+def test_load_returns_none_when_the_allowlist_setting_is_absent_even_if_identity_sources_are_set() -> None:
+    settings: Final = {"litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "azp"}, "mcp_client_id_header": "x-mcp-client"}
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) is None
+
+
+def test_load_reads_the_jwt_field_from_litellm_jwtauth_and_lowercases_the_header_name() -> None:
+    settings: Final = {
+        "mcp_allowed_clients": [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX],
+        "litellm_jwtauth": {"user_id_jwt_field": "sub", "mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "resource_access.mcp.client"},
+        "mcp_client_id_header": "X-MCP-Client",
+    }
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) == MCPClientAllowlist(
+        aliases_by_value={"antigravity-cli": "Antigravity CLI", "codex-mcp-client": "Codex"},
+        jwt_field="resource_access.mcp.client",
+        header="x-mcp-client",
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "settings",
+    (
+        {"mcp_allowed_clients": [ANTIGRAVITY]},
+        {"mcp_allowed_clients": [ANTIGRAVITY], "litellm_jwtauth": {}, "mcp_client_id_header": ""},
+        {"mcp_allowed_clients": [ANTIGRAVITY], "litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": ""}},
+        {"mcp_allowed_clients": [ANTIGRAVITY], "litellm_jwtauth": "azp", "mcp_client_id_header": ["x"]},
+    ),
+)
+def test_load_without_a_usable_identity_source_keeps_the_allowlist_but_no_source(
+    settings: Mapping[str, object],
+) -> None:
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) == NO_SOURCE
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("raw_setting", ("antigravity-cli", ["antigravity-cli"], [{"alias": "Antigravity CLI"}]))
+def test_load_malformed_allowlist_admits_nobody(raw_setting: object) -> None:
+    loaded: Final = load_mcp_client_allowlist({"mcp_allowed_clients": raw_setting})
+    assert loaded is not None
+    assert loaded.aliases_by_value == {}
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(loaded, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}) is not None
+
+
+def test_only_the_value_identifies_a_client_never_its_alias() -> None:
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, {"azp": "Antigravity CLI"}, NO_HEADERS) is not None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, None, {"x-mcp-client": "Antigravity CLI"}) is not None
+
+
+def test_two_clients_may_share_an_alias_and_both_are_admitted() -> None:
+    settings: Final = {
+        "mcp_allowed_clients": [
+            {"alias": "Coding CLI", "value": "cli-dev"},
+            {"alias": "Coding CLI", "value": "cli-prod"},
+        ],
+        "litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "azp"},
+    }
+    loaded: Final = load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings)
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(loaded, {"azp": "cli-dev"}, NO_HEADERS) is None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(loaded, {"azp": "cli-prod"}, NO_HEADERS) is None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(loaded, {"azp": "Coding CLI"}, NO_HEADERS) is not None
+
+
+def test_unconfigured_allowlist_admits_callers_with_no_identity_at_all() -> None:
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(None, None, NO_HEADERS) is None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(None, {"azp": "claude-code"}, {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"}) is None
+
+
+def test_jwt_claim_identifies_the_client() -> None:
+    assert resolve_mcp_client_identity(JWT_ONLY, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, NO_HEADERS) == MCPClientIdentity(
+        client_id="antigravity-cli", source="jwt", source_name="azp"
+    )
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, NO_HEADERS) is None
+
+
+def test_nested_jwt_claim_path_is_resolved_with_dot_notation() -> None:
+    nested: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(
+        aliases_by_value=ANTIGRAVITY_ONLY, jwt_field="resource_access.mcp.client", header=None
+    )
+    claims: Final = {"resource_access": {"mcp": {"client": "antigravity-cli"}}}
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(nested, claims, NO_HEADERS) is None
+
+
+def test_unlisted_jwt_client_is_rejected_and_the_rejection_names_it() -> None:
+    rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, {"azp": "claude-code"}, NO_HEADERS)
+    assert isinstance(rejection, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert "'claude-code'" in rejection.details
+    assert "azp" in rejection.details
+    assert MCP_ALLOWED_CLIENTS_SETTING in rejection.details
+    assert rejection.response_body == {"error": "Forbidden", "details": rejection.details}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("claims", ({"sub": "user-1"}, {"azp": ""}, {"azp": 42}, {"azp": ["antigravity-cli"]}))
+def test_jwt_without_a_usable_client_claim_is_rejected(claims: Mapping[str, object]) -> None:
+    rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, claims, NO_HEADERS)
+    assert isinstance(rejection, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert "azp" in rejection.details
+
+
+def test_matching_is_exact_not_prefix_or_case_insensitive() -> None:
+    for spoof in ("Antigravity-Cli", "antigravity-cli-sdk", " antigravity-cli"):
+        assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, {"azp": spoof}, NO_HEADERS) is not None
+        assert check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, None, {"x-mcp-client": spoof}) is not None
+
+
+def test_configured_header_identifies_callers_without_a_jwt() -> None:
+    headers: Final = {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}
+    assert resolve_mcp_client_identity(HEADER_ONLY, None, headers) == MCPClientIdentity(
+        client_id="antigravity-cli", source="header", source_name="x-mcp-client"
+    )
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, None, headers) is None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, {}, headers) is None
+
+
+def test_unlisted_or_missing_header_is_rejected() -> None:
+    unlisted: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, None, {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"})
+    assert isinstance(unlisted, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert "'claude-code'" in unlisted.details
+    for headers in (NO_HEADERS, {"x-mcp-client": ""}, {"x-other": "antigravity-cli"}):
+        missing = check_mcp_client_allowed(HEADER_ONLY, None, headers)
+        assert isinstance(missing, MCPClientRejection)
+        assert "x-mcp-client" in missing.details
+
+
+def test_header_is_not_consulted_when_it_is_not_configured() -> None:
+    rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_ONLY, None, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"})
+    assert isinstance(rejection, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING in rejection.details
+    assert MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING in rejection.details
+
+
+def test_jwt_caller_is_judged_by_its_claim_even_when_the_header_would_pass() -> None:
+    spoofed_header: Final = {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, {"azp": "claude-code"}, spoofed_header) is not None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, {"sub": "user-1"}, spoofed_header) is not None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"}) is None
+
+
+def test_jwt_caller_with_an_empty_claim_set_cannot_fall_back_to_the_header() -> None:
+    rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, {}, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"})
+    assert isinstance(rejection, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert "azp" in rejection.details
+
+
+def test_non_jwt_caller_falls_back_to_the_header_when_both_sources_are_configured() -> None:
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, None, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}) is None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(JWT_AND_HEADER, None, {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"}) is not None
+
+
+def test_allowlist_with_no_identity_source_rejects_everyone_and_says_what_to_configure() -> None:
+    rejection: Final = check_mcp_client_allowed(
+        NO_SOURCE, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}
+    )
+    assert isinstance(rejection, MCPClientRejection)
+    assert MCP_CLIENT_ID_JWT_FIELD_SETTING in rejection.details
+    assert MCP_CLIENT_ID_HEADER_SETTING in rejection.details
+
+
+def test_empty_allowlist_rejects_an_identified_client() -> None:
+    empty: Final = MCPClientAllowlist(aliases_by_value={}, jwt_field="azp", header="x-mcp-client")
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(empty, {"azp": "antigravity-cli"}, NO_HEADERS) is not None
+    assert check_mcp_client_allowed(empty, None, {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}) is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_mcp_server.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_mcp_server.py
index 0e2ceb98987..33e14736357 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_mcp_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_mcp_server.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+import contextlib
 import contextvars
 import os
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ from mcp.types import (
     TextContent,
     TextResourceContents,
 )
+from pydantic import TypeAdapter
+from starlette.types import Receive, Scope, Send
 
 from litellm.proxy._types import (
     LiteLLM_MCPServerTable,
@@ -2035,6 +2038,220 @@ async def test_mcp_routing_initialize_to_stateful_no_session_to_stateless(
         assert not any(name.startswith(b"x-mcp-debug") for name in headers)
 
 
+_FORBIDDEN_BODY_ADAPTER: Final[TypeAdapter[dict[str, str]]] = TypeAdapter(dict[str, str])
+_BODY_CHUNK_ADAPTER: Final[TypeAdapter[bytes]] = TypeAdapter(bytes)
+_INITIALIZE: Final = (
+    b'{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":0,"method":"initialize","params":{"protocolVersion":"2025-06-18",'
+    b'"capabilities":{},"clientInfo":{"name":"antigravity-cli","version":"1.0.0"}}}'
+)
+_TOOLS_LIST: Final = b'{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":2,"method":"tools/list","params":{}}'
+_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS: Final[dict[str, object]] = {
+    "mcp_allowed_clients": [{"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": "antigravity-cli"}],
+    "litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "azp"},
+    "mcp_client_id_header": "x-mcp-client",
+}
+_LISTED_JWT: Final[dict[str, object]] = {"azp": "antigravity-cli", "sub": "user-1"}
+_UNLISTED_JWT: Final[dict[str, object]] = {"azp": "claude-code", "sub": "user-1"}
+_LISTED_HEADER: Final[list[tuple[bytes, bytes]]] = [(b"x-mcp-client", b"antigravity-cli")]
+_UNLISTED_HEADER: Final[list[tuple[bytes, bytes]]] = [(b"x-mcp-client", b"claude-code")]
+
+
+async def _drain_body(receive: Receive) -> bytes:
+    first: Final = await receive()
+    body: Final = _BODY_CHUNK_ADAPTER.validate_python(first.get("body", b""))
+    if not first.get("more_body", False):
+        return body
+    return body + await _drain_body(receive)
+
+
+def _client_allowlist_patches(
+    settings: dict[str, object], jwt_claims: dict[str, object] | None
+) -> contextlib.ExitStack:
+    stack: Final = contextlib.ExitStack()
+    stack.enter_context(
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: the ASGI handler resolves auth through a module-level function; no injection seam
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server.extract_mcp_auth_context",
+            new_callable=AsyncMock,
+            return_value=(UserAPIKeyAuth(user_id="allowlist-user", jwt_claims=jwt_claims), None, None, None, None, {}),
+        )
+    )
+    stack.enter_context(
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: module flag guarding lazy session-manager startup; no injection seam
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server._SESSION_MANAGERS_INITIALIZED", True
+        )
+    )
+    stack.enter_context(
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: the allowlist is read off this module global; no injection seam
+            "litellm.proxy.proxy_server.general_settings", settings
+        )
+    )
+    return stack
+
+
+def _forbidden_body(denied: HTTPException) -> dict[str, str]:
+    return _FORBIDDEN_BODY_ADAPTER.validate_python(denied.detail)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("jwt_claims", "headers", "request_body", "expected_fragment"),
+    (
+        (_UNLISTED_JWT, [], _INITIALIZE, "MCP client 'claude-code' (from JWT claim 'azp')"),
+        (_UNLISTED_JWT, _LISTED_HEADER, _INITIALIZE, "MCP client 'claude-code' (from JWT claim 'azp')"),
+        ({"sub": "user-1"}, _LISTED_HEADER, _INITIALIZE, "no 'azp' claim"),
+        (None, _UNLISTED_HEADER, _INITIALIZE, "MCP client 'claude-code' (from header 'x-mcp-client')"),
+        (None, [], _INITIALIZE, "no 'x-mcp-client' header"),
+        (_UNLISTED_JWT, [(b"mcp-session-id", b"session-1")], _TOOLS_LIST, "MCP client 'claude-code'"),
+    ),
+)
+async def test_streamable_http_rejects_unlisted_client_before_any_session_work(
+    jwt_claims: dict[str, object] | None,
+    headers: list[tuple[bytes, bytes]],
+    request_body: bytes,
+    expected_fragment: str,
+) -> None:
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server import server as mcp_module
+
+    scope: Final[Scope] = {"type": "http", "method": "POST", "path": "/mcp", "headers": headers}
+    receive: Final = AsyncMock(return_value={"type": "http.request", "body": request_body, "more_body": False})
+    send: Final = AsyncMock()
+    stateful_handle: Final = AsyncMock()
+    stateless_handle: Final = AsyncMock()
+    session_cap: Final = AsyncMock(return_value=True)
+
+    with (
+        _client_allowlist_patches(_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, jwt_claims),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: session managers are module singletons; the downstream call is the observable
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server.session_manager_stateful",
+            SimpleNamespace(handle_request=stateful_handle),
+        ),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: session managers are module singletons; the downstream call is the observable
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server.session_manager_stateless",
+            SimpleNamespace(handle_request=stateless_handle),
+        ),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: module-level cap check; asserting it is never reached is the point
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server._enforce_stateful_session_cap_for_owner", session_cap
+        ),
+        pytest.raises(HTTPException) as denied,
+    ):
+        await mcp_module.handle_streamable_http_mcp(scope, receive, send)
+
+    assert denied.value.status_code == 403
+    body: Final = _forbidden_body(denied.value)
+    assert body["error"] == "Forbidden"
+    assert expected_fragment in body["details"]
+    assert "mcp_allowed_clients" in body["details"]
+    receive.assert_not_awaited()
+    send.assert_not_awaited()
+    stateful_handle.assert_not_awaited()
+    stateless_handle.assert_not_awaited()
+    session_cap.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("settings", "jwt_claims", "headers"),
+    (
+        (_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, _LISTED_JWT, []),
+        (_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, _LISTED_JWT, _UNLISTED_HEADER),
+        (_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, None, _LISTED_HEADER),
+        ({}, _UNLISTED_JWT, _UNLISTED_HEADER),
+        ({}, None, []),
+    ),
+)
+async def test_streamable_http_admits_listed_or_unrestricted_clients_and_hands_the_body_downstream(
+    settings: dict[str, object], jwt_claims: dict[str, object] | None, headers: list[tuple[bytes, bytes]]
+) -> None:
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server import server as mcp_module
+
+    scope: Final[Scope] = {"type": "http", "method": "POST", "path": "/mcp", "headers": headers}
+    receive: Final = AsyncMock(
+        side_effect=[
+            {"type": "http.request", "body": _INITIALIZE[:20], "more_body": True},
+            {"type": "http.request", "body": _INITIALIZE[20:], "more_body": False},
+        ]
+    )
+    send: Final = AsyncMock()
+    downstream_bodies: Final[list[bytes]] = []
+
+    async def handle_request(_: Scope, downstream_receive: Receive, __: Send) -> None:
+        downstream_bodies.append(await _drain_body(downstream_receive))
+
+    stateful_handle: Final = AsyncMock(side_effect=handle_request)
+    stateless_handle: Final = AsyncMock()
+
+    with (
+        _client_allowlist_patches(settings, jwt_claims),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: session managers are module singletons; the downstream call is the observable
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server.session_manager_stateful",
+            SimpleNamespace(handle_request=stateful_handle),
+        ),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: session managers are module singletons; the downstream call is the observable
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server.session_manager_stateless",
+            SimpleNamespace(handle_request=stateless_handle),
+        ),
+    ):
+        await mcp_module.handle_streamable_http_mcp(scope, receive, send)
+
+    assert downstream_bodies == [_INITIALIZE]
+    stateless_handle.assert_not_awaited()
+    send.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("jwt_claims", "headers", "admitted"),
+    (
+        (_LISTED_JWT, [], True),
+        (None, _LISTED_HEADER, True),
+        (_UNLISTED_JWT, _LISTED_HEADER, False),
+        (None, _UNLISTED_HEADER, False),
+        (None, [], False),
+    ),
+)
+async def test_sse_endpoint_applies_the_same_client_allowlist(
+    jwt_claims: dict[str, object] | None, headers: list[tuple[bytes, bytes]], admitted: bool
+) -> None:
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server import server as mcp_module
+
+    scope: Final[Scope] = {"type": "http", "method": "POST", "path": "/mcp/sse", "headers": headers}
+    receive: Final = AsyncMock(return_value={"type": "http.request", "body": _INITIALIZE, "more_body": False})
+    send: Final = AsyncMock()
+    downstream_bodies: Final[list[bytes]] = []
+
+    async def handle_request(_: Scope, downstream_receive: Receive, __: Send) -> None:
+        downstream_bodies.append(await _drain_body(downstream_receive))
+
+    with (
+        _client_allowlist_patches(_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, jwt_claims),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: module-level pre-auth probe unrelated to the allowlist under test; no injection seam
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server._raise_preemptive_401_for_unauthenticated_servers",
+            new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        ),
+        patch(  # test-quality-ok: module-level upstream auth probe unrelated to the allowlist under test; no injection seam
+            "litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server._check_passthrough_upstream_auth",
+            new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        ),
+        patch.object(  # test-quality-ok: SSE manager is a module singleton; the downstream call is the observable
+            mcp_module.sse_session_manager, "handle_request", side_effect=handle_request
+        ),
+    ):
+        if admitted:
+            await mcp_module.handle_sse_mcp(scope, receive, send)
+            assert downstream_bodies == [_INITIALIZE]
+            send.assert_not_awaited()
+            return
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as denied:
+            await mcp_module.handle_sse_mcp(scope, receive, send)
+
+    assert denied.value.status_code == 403
+    body: Final = _forbidden_body(denied.value)
+    assert body["error"] == "Forbidden"
+    assert "mcp_allowed_clients" in body["details"]
+    assert downstream_bodies == []
+    send.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_mcp_routing_chunked_initialize_to_stateful():
     """
@@ -5422,11 +5639,12 @@ async def test_get_tools_from_mcp_servers_logs_list_tools_to_spendlogs_when_enab
     Ensure list-tools logging path calls `async_success_handler` when enabled.
     """
     try:
+        from mcp.types import Tool as MCPTool
+
         from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server import (
             _get_tools_from_mcp_servers,
         )
         from litellm.proxy._types import UserAPIKeyAuth
-        from mcp.types import Tool as MCPTool
     except ImportError:
         pytest.skip("MCP server not available")
 
@@ -8376,10 +8594,10 @@ async def test_fire_mcp_tool_call_logging_iserror_logs_failure():
     """Regression test: a CallToolResult with isError=True must go
     down the failure logging path (async_failure_handler + post_call_failure_hook),
     never async_success_handler."""
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.exceptions import MCPToolResultError
     from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server import (
         _fire_mcp_tool_call_logging,
     )
-    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.exceptions import MCPToolResultError
 
     logging_obj = _mock_mcp_logging_obj()
     proxy_logging_mock = _mock_mcp_proxy_logging()
@@ -8729,11 +8947,11 @@ async def test_call_mcp_tool_skips_failure_hook_for_upstream_auth_error():
     caller-must-reauth signal, not a failed call, so call_mcp_tool must re-raise it WITHOUT firing
     post_call_failure_hook (which records a failure and can trip LLM exception alerts). The
     streamable handler downgrades it to an informational isError result afterward."""
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.exceptions import MCPUpstreamAuthError
     from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.server import (
         call_mcp_tool,
         global_mcp_server_manager,
     )
-    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.exceptions import MCPUpstreamAuthError
     from litellm.proxy._types import MCPTransport, UserAPIKeyAuth
     from litellm.types.mcp_server.mcp_server_manager import MCPServer
 
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_rest_endpoints.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_rest_endpoints.py
index 4ec4ae31ca6..ac3ad9ed89e 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_rest_endpoints.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/_experimental/mcp_server/test_rest_endpoints.py
@@ -4313,3 +4313,131 @@ class TestV1ResolvedOauth2Gate:
 
         assert rest_endpoints._v1_resolved_oauth2_server_ids(["oauth2-srv"]) == set()
         assert rest_endpoints._v1_resolved_oauth2_server_ids(["oauth2-srv", "delegate-srv"]) == {"delegate-srv"}
+
+
+_CLIENT_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS: Final[dict[str, object]] = {
+    "mcp_allowed_clients": [{"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": "antigravity-cli"}],
+    "litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "azp"},
+    "mcp_client_id_header": "x-mcp-client",
+}
+
+
+class TestClientAllowlistOnRestRoutes:
+    """``mcp_allowed_clients`` must gate the REST tool facade exactly like the /mcp transports,
+    otherwise an unlisted harness can list and call tools by switching to /mcp-rest."""
+
+    pytestmark = pytest.mark.asyncio
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _stub_listing(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> list[UserAPIKeyAuth]:
+        listed_for: list[UserAPIKeyAuth] = []
+
+        async def fake_contexts(user_api_key_auth: UserAPIKeyAuth) -> list[UserAPIKeyAuth]:
+            listed_for.append(user_api_key_auth)
+            return [user_api_key_auth]
+
+        async def fake_get_allowed_mcp_servers(
+            user_api_key_auth: UserAPIKeyAuth | None = None,
+            *,
+            keyless_source: bool = False,
+        ) -> list[str]:
+            return []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.general_settings", _CLIENT_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(rest_endpoints, "build_effective_auth_contexts", fake_contexts, raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            rest_endpoints.global_mcp_server_manager,
+            "get_allowed_mcp_servers",
+            fake_get_allowed_mcp_servers,
+            raising=False,
+        )
+        return listed_for
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("caller", "headers", "expected_fragment"),
+        (
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(jwt_claims={"azp": "claude-code"}), {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}, "'claude-code'"),
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(jwt_claims={}), {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}, "no 'azp' claim"),
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(), {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"}, "'claude-code'"),
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(), {}, "no 'x-mcp-client' header"),
+        ),
+    )
+    async def test_tools_list_rejects_unlisted_clients_before_resolving_servers(
+        self,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+        caller: UserAPIKeyAuth,
+        headers: dict[str, str],
+        expected_fragment: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        listed_for: Final = self._stub_listing(monkeypatch)
+        request: Final = _build_request(headers, path="/mcp-rest/tools/list", method="GET")
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as denied:
+            await rest_endpoints.list_tool_rest_api(
+                request, server_id=None, mcp_server_name=None, toolset_name=None, user_api_key_dict=caller
+            )
+
+        assert denied.value.status_code == 403
+        assert denied.value.detail["error"] == "Forbidden"
+        assert expected_fragment in denied.value.detail["details"]
+        assert "mcp_allowed_clients" in denied.value.detail["details"]
+        assert listed_for == []
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("caller", "headers"),
+        (
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(jwt_claims={"azp": "antigravity-cli"}), {"x-mcp-client": "claude-code"}),
+            (UserAPIKeyAuth(), {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"}),
+        ),
+    )
+    async def test_tools_list_admits_listed_clients(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, caller: UserAPIKeyAuth, headers: dict[str, str]
+    ) -> None:
+        listed_for: Final = self._stub_listing(monkeypatch)
+        request: Final = _build_request(headers, path="/mcp-rest/tools/list", method="GET")
+
+        result: Final = await rest_endpoints.list_tool_rest_api(
+            request, server_id=None, mcp_server_name=None, toolset_name=None, user_api_key_dict=caller
+        )
+
+        assert result["tools"] == []
+        assert listed_for == [caller]
+
+    async def test_dashboard_session_is_not_treated_as_a_client_application(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        from litellm.constants import UI_SESSION_TOKEN_TEAM_ID
+
+        listed_for: Final = self._stub_listing(monkeypatch)
+        session: Final = UserAPIKeyAuth(team_id=UI_SESSION_TOKEN_TEAM_ID, user_id="admin-user", user_role="proxy_admin")
+        request: Final = _build_request(path="/mcp-rest/tools/list", method="GET")
+
+        result: Final = await rest_endpoints.list_tool_rest_api(
+            request, server_id=None, mcp_server_name=None, toolset_name=None, user_api_key_dict=session
+        )
+
+        assert result["tools"] == []
+        assert listed_for == [session]
+
+    async def test_tools_call_rejects_unlisted_clients_before_reading_the_body(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.general_settings", _CLIENT_ALLOWLIST_SETTINGS, raising=False)
+        acting: Final = AsyncMock()
+        monkeypatch.setattr(rest_endpoints, "acting_user_auth", acting, raising=False)
+        request: Final = _build_request(
+            {"x-mcp-client": "antigravity-cli"},
+            path="/mcp-rest/tools/call",
+            method="POST",
+            json_body={"server_id": "server-1", "name": "demo-tool", "arguments": {}},
+        )
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as denied:
+            await rest_endpoints.call_tool_rest_api(
+                request, user_api_key_dict=UserAPIKeyAuth(jwt_claims={"azp": "claude-code"})
+            )
+
+        assert denied.value.status_code == 403
+        assert denied.value.detail["error"] == "Forbidden"
+        assert "'claude-code'" in denied.value.detail["details"]
+        acting.assert_not_awaited()
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_server.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_server.py
index 2200372b567..8ec24e25326 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_server.py
@@ -14314,6 +14314,29 @@ async def test_update_general_settings_keeps_yaml_openai_websocket_passthrough()
         assert ps.general_settings["enable_openai_websocket_passthrough"] is False
 
 
+def test_settings_store_exposes_dashboard_saved_mcp_client_allowlist_to_the_mcp_gateway() -> None:
+    from litellm.proxy._experimental.mcp_server.client_allowlist import MCPClientAllowlist, load_mcp_client_allowlist
+    from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import ProxyConfig
+
+    settings: Final = ProxyConfig().settings
+    settings.load_yaml({"litellm_jwtauth": {"mcp_client_id_jwt_field": "azp"}})
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) is None
+
+    settings.apply_db_row(
+        "general_settings",
+        {
+            "mcp_allowed_clients": [{"alias": "Antigravity CLI", "value": "antigravity-cli"}],
+            "mcp_client_id_header": "X-MCP-Client",
+        },
+    )
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) == MCPClientAllowlist(
+        aliases_by_value={"antigravity-cli": "Antigravity CLI"}, jwt_field="azp", header="x-mcp-client"
+    )
+
+    settings.apply_db_row("general_settings", {"mcp_client_id_header": "X-MCP-Client"})
+    assert load_mcp_client_allowlist(settings) is None
+
+
 async def test_token_counter_keeps_the_event_loop_free_during_a_huggingface_count(monkeypatch):
     from tests.large_text import text
     from tests.test_litellm.litellm_core_utils.event_loop_lag import (
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.test.tsx
index 9526f5de074..4a486bfc648 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor, within } from "@testing-library/react";
 import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
 import MCPNetworkSettings from "./MCPNetworkSettings";
+import { toast } from "@/lib/toast";
 import {
   getGeneralSettingsCall,
   updateConfigFieldSetting,
@@ -16,8 +17,31 @@ vi.mock("@/components/networking", () => ({
   fetchMCPClientIp: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
+vi.mock("@/lib/toast", () => ({
+  toast: { success: vi.fn(), fromError: vi.fn() },
+}));
+
 const renderSettings = () => render(<MCPNetworkSettings accessToken="tok" />);
 
+const ANTIGRAVITY = { alias: "Antigravity CLI", value: "antigravity-cli" };
+const CODEX = { alias: "Codex", value: "codex-mcp-client" };
+
+const clientCard = (alias: string) => screen.getByRole("button", { name: new RegExp(`^${alias}`) });
+
+const fillClientDialog = async (alias: string, value: string) => {
+  const dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog");
+  fireEvent.change(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Alias" }), { target: { value: alias } });
+  fireEvent.change(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Value" }), { target: { value } });
+  return dialog;
+};
+
+const addClient = async (alias: string, value: string) => {
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Add client" }));
+  const dialog = await fillClientDialog(alias, value);
+  await userEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Add" }));
+  await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+};
+
 describe("MCPNetworkSettings", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
@@ -82,25 +106,399 @@ describe("MCPNetworkSettings", () => {
     expect(screen.getByText("203.0.113.0/24")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it("saves the configured ranges", async () => {
+  it("saves the configured ranges once they change", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(fetchMCPClientIp).mockResolvedValue("203.0.113.45");
     vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
       { field_name: "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", field_value: ["10.0.0.0/8"] },
     ]);
 
     renderSettings();
+    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("203.0.113.0/24"));
     await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
 
     await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", ["10.0.0.0/8"]),
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", [
+        "10.0.0.0/8",
+        "203.0.113.0/24",
+      ]),
     );
-    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges");
   });
 
-  it("clears the setting instead of saving an empty list", async () => {
+  it("clears a stored range setting instead of saving an empty list", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", field_value: ["10.0.0.0/8"] },
+    ]);
+
     renderSettings();
-    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Remove 10.0.0.0/8" }));
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
 
     await waitFor(() => expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges"));
     expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it("does not write settings that were never stored and are still empty", async () => {
+    renderSettings();
+    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.success).toHaveBeenCalledWith("MCP network settings saved"));
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("labels the section Allowed Clients and renders each stored client as a card showing alias and value", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients")).toBeVisible();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/Allowed Client IDs/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/Allowed Client Applications/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(clientCard("Antigravity CLI")).toHaveTextContent("antigravity-cli");
+    expect(clientCard("Codex")).toHaveTextContent("codex-mcp-client");
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("opens an edit dialog when a client card is clicked, prefilled with that client's alias and value", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(clientCard("Codex"));
+
+    const dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog", { name: "Edit client" });
+    expect(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Alias" })).toHaveValue("Codex");
+    expect(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Value" })).toHaveValue("codex-mcp-client");
+  });
+
+  it("warns that a stored allowlist in the old plain-string shape denies every client and lets Save remove it", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: ["antigravity-cli"] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText(/stored allowlist is not a list of alias and value pairs/)).toBeVisible();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("antigravity-cli")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText(/stored allowlist is not a list/)).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+  });
+
+  it("replaces a stored allowlist in the old plain-string shape with the clients the admin adds", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: ["antigravity-cli"] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    await screen.findByText(/stored allowlist is not a list of alias and value pairs/);
+    await addClient(ANTIGRAVITY.alias, ANTIGRAVITY.value);
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [ANTIGRAVITY]),
+    );
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients");
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText(/stored allowlist is not a list/)).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+  });
+
+  it("treats a stored entry with an empty alias or value as denying every client, like the gateway does", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY, { alias: "", value: "claude-code" }] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText(/stored allowlist is not a list of alias and value pairs/)).toBeVisible();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: /^Antigravity CLI/ })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("adds clients as alias and value pairs and saves them under mcp_allowed_clients", async () => {
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+
+    await addClient(" Antigravity CLI ", " antigravity-cli ");
+    await addClient("Codex", "codex-mcp-client");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX]),
+    );
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients");
+  });
+
+  it("edits a stored client's value through its dialog and saves the new value", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(clientCard("Antigravity CLI"));
+    const dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog");
+    fireEvent.change(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Value" }), {
+      target: { value: " 0oa1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9 " },
+    });
+    await userEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Done" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(clientCard("Antigravity CLI")).toHaveTextContent("0oa1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [
+        { alias: "Antigravity CLI", value: "0oa1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9" },
+      ]),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a stored client untouched when its dialog is cancelled", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(clientCard("Antigravity CLI"));
+    const dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog");
+    fireEvent.change(within(dialog).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Value" }), { target: { value: "changed" } });
+    await userEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(clientCard("Antigravity CLI")).toHaveTextContent("antigravity-cli");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.success).toHaveBeenCalledWith("MCP network settings saved"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("will not add a client that has an alias but no value", async () => {
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Add client" }));
+    const dialog = await fillClientDialog("Antigravity CLI", "   ");
+
+    expect(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Add" })).toBeDisabled();
+  });
+
+  it("adds nothing when the add dialog is cancelled", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Add client" }));
+    const dialog = await fillClientDialog("Codex", "codex-mcp-client");
+    await userEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Codex")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.success).toHaveBeenCalledWith("MCP network settings saved"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("removes the right client from the middle of the list", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      {
+        field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients",
+        field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY, { alias: "Claude Code", value: "claude-code" }, CODEX],
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(clientCard("Claude Code"));
+    await userEvent.click(within(await screen.findByRole("dialog")).getByRole("button", { name: "Remove client" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(screen.queryByText("claude-code")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX]),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("removes a client and clears the setting when the list becomes empty", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [{ alias: "Claude Code", value: "claude-code" }] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await userEvent.click(clientCard("Claude Code"));
+    await userEvent.click(within(await screen.findByRole("dialog")).getByRole("button", { name: "Remove client" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(screen.queryByText("claude-code")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", expect.anything());
+  });
+
+  it("warns that a stored empty allowlist denies every client and lets Save remove it", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([{ field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [] }]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText(/An empty allowlist is currently stored, so every client is denied/)).toBeVisible();
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText(/An empty allowlist is currently stored/)).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+  });
+
+  it("does not show the deny-all warning when no allowlist is stored", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([{ field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: null }]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/every client is denied/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("explains that JWT callers are identified by the configured claim and others by the opt-in header", async () => {
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText(/litellm_jwtauth\.mcp_client_id_jwt_field/)).toBeVisible();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Clients pick this value themselves, so it is a policy control/)).toBeVisible();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/clientInfo/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("renders the stored client identity header once settings load", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_client_id_header", field_value: "x-mcp-client" },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("textbox", { name: "Client identity header" })).toHaveValue("x-mcp-client");
+  });
+
+  it("saves a newly typed client identity header under mcp_client_id_header", async () => {
+    renderSettings();
+    fireEvent.change(await screen.findByRole("textbox", { name: "Client identity header" }), {
+      target: { value: " x-mcp-client " },
+    });
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_client_id_header", "x-mcp-client"),
+    );
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", expect.anything());
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("clears a stored client identity header when the field is emptied, so only JWT identity is trusted", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_client_id_header", field_value: "x-mcp-client" },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    fireEvent.change(await screen.findByRole("textbox", { name: "Client identity header" }), {
+      target: { value: "" },
+    });
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_client_id_header"));
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("does not rewrite an unchanged client identity header on save", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_client_id_header", field_value: "x-mcp-client" },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByRole("textbox", { name: "Client identity header" });
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.success).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the private ranges and the allowed clients as independent settings on save", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", field_value: ["10.0.0.0/8"] },
+      { field_name: "mcp_allowed_clients", field_value: [ANTIGRAVITY] },
+    ]);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await screen.findByText("Allowed Clients");
+    await addClient("Codex", "codex-mcp-client");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [ANTIGRAVITY, CODEX]),
+    );
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", expect.anything());
+    expect(deleteConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("still saves the allowed clients when the private range write fails, and reports the failure", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getGeneralSettingsCall).mockResolvedValue([
+      { field_name: "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", field_value: ["10.0.0.0/8"] },
+    ]);
+    const rangeFailure = new Error("Field name=mcp_internal_ip_ranges not in config");
+    vi.mocked(deleteConfigFieldSetting).mockRejectedValue(rangeFailure);
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Remove 10.0.0.0/8" }));
+    await addClient("Codex", "codex-mcp-client");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [CODEX]));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.fromError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(rangeFailure));
+    expect(toast.success).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("writes the private ranges and the allowed clients one after the other, never concurrently", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(fetchMCPClientIp).mockResolvedValue("203.0.113.45");
+    let finishRangeWrite: (() => void) | undefined;
+    vi.mocked(updateConfigFieldSetting).mockImplementation(
+      (_token, fieldName) =>
+        new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+          if (fieldName === "mcp_internal_ip_ranges") {
+            finishRangeWrite = resolve;
+          } else {
+            resolve();
+          }
+        }),
+    );
+
+    renderSettings();
+    await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("203.0.113.0/24"));
+    await addClient("Codex", "codex-mcp-client");
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Save/ }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", ["203.0.113.0/24"]),
+    );
+    expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", expect.anything());
+
+    finishRangeWrite?.();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(updateConfigFieldSetting).toHaveBeenCalledWith("tok", "mcp_allowed_clients", [CODEX]));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(toast.success).toHaveBeenCalledWith("MCP network settings saved"));
+  });
 });
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.tsx
index 8b4d2a58652..2fd62c7f1ef 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/mcp-servers/_components/MCPNetworkSettings.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,21 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useId } from "react";
 import { Save, Plus, X } from "lucide-react";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogDescription,
+  DialogFooter,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle,
+} from "@/components/ui/dialog";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
 import { UiLoadingSpinner } from "@/components/ui/ui-loading-spinner";
 import { DeprecationBanner } from "@/components/DeprecationBanner";
+import { toast } from "@/lib/toast";
 import {
   getGeneralSettingsCall,
   updateConfigFieldSetting,
@@ -26,12 +36,142 @@ function ipToSlash24(ip: string): string {
   return `${parts[0]}.${parts[1]}.${parts[2]}.0/24`;
 }
 
+export interface AllowedClient {
+  readonly alias: string;
+  readonly value: string;
+}
+
+interface AllowedClientRow extends AllowedClient {
+  readonly key: string;
+}
+
+interface ClientDraft extends AllowedClient {
+  readonly key: string | null;
+}
+
+const isAllowedClient = (entry: unknown): entry is AllowedClient => {
+  if (typeof entry !== "object" || entry === null) return false;
+  const { alias, value } = entry as Partial<Record<keyof AllowedClient, unknown>>;
+  return typeof alias === "string" && typeof value === "string" && !isIncomplete({ alias, value });
+};
+
+type StoredAllowlist =
+  | { readonly kind: "absent" }
+  | { readonly kind: "clients"; readonly clients: AllowedClient[] }
+  | { readonly kind: "malformed" };
+
+const ABSENT: StoredAllowlist = { kind: "absent" };
+
+const parseStoredClients = (fieldValue: unknown): StoredAllowlist => {
+  if (fieldValue === null || fieldValue === undefined) return ABSENT;
+  if (Array.isArray(fieldValue) && fieldValue.every(isAllowedClient)) {
+    return { kind: "clients", clients: fieldValue.map(({ alias, value }) => ({ alias, value })) };
+  }
+  return { kind: "malformed" };
+};
+
+let nextRowKey = 0;
+const newRow = (client: AllowedClient): AllowedClientRow => ({ ...client, key: `client-${nextRowKey++}` });
+
+const trimClient = ({ alias, value }: AllowedClient): AllowedClient => ({ alias: alias.trim(), value: value.trim() });
+
+const isIncomplete = ({ alias, value }: AllowedClient) => alias === "" || value === "";
+
+const sameList = (a: string[], b: string[]) => a.length === b.length && a.every((value, i) => value === b[i]);
+
+const sameClients = (a: AllowedClient[], b: AllowedClient[]) =>
+  a.length === b.length && a.every((client, i) => client.alias === b[i].alias && client.value === b[i].value);
+
+const unchangedSinceLoad = (value: string[], stored: string[] | null) =>
+  stored === null ? value.length === 0 : value.length > 0 && sameList(value, stored);
+
+const clientsUnchangedSinceLoad = (value: AllowedClient[], stored: StoredAllowlist) => {
+  switch (stored.kind) {
+    case "absent":
+      return value.length === 0;
+    case "clients":
+      return value.length > 0 && sameClients(value, stored.clients);
+    case "malformed":
+      return false;
+  }
+};
+
+const headerUnchangedSinceLoad = (value: string, stored: string | null) =>
+  stored === null ? value === "" : value !== "" && value === stored;
+
+interface AllowedClientDialogProps {
+  readonly draft: ClientDraft | null;
+  readonly onChange: (draft: ClientDraft) => void;
+  readonly onCommit: () => void;
+  readonly onRemove: () => void;
+  readonly onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+const AllowedClientDialog: React.FC<AllowedClientDialogProps> = ({ draft, onChange, onCommit, onRemove, onClose }) => {
+  const aliasId = useId();
+  const valueId = useId();
+  if (draft === null) return null;
+  return (
+    <Dialog open onOpenChange={(open) => !open && onClose()}>
+      <DialogContent>
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>{draft.key === null ? "Add client" : "Edit client"}</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>
+            The alias is the name shown in the dashboard and gateway logs. The value is the exact JWT claim or header
+            value that identifies the client, such as the OAuth client ID your identity provider issues.
+          </DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <div className="grid gap-4">
+          <div className="grid gap-2">
+            <Label htmlFor={aliasId}>Alias</Label>
+            <Input
+              id={aliasId}
+              value={draft.alias}
+              placeholder="e.g. Coding CLI"
+              onChange={(e) => onChange({ ...draft, alias: e.target.value })}
+            />
+          </div>
+          <div className="grid gap-2">
+            <Label htmlFor={valueId}>Value</Label>
+            <Input
+              id={valueId}
+              value={draft.value}
+              placeholder="e.g. 0oa1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9"
+              className="font-mono"
+              onChange={(e) => onChange({ ...draft, value: e.target.value })}
+            />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <DialogFooter>
+          {draft.key !== null && (
+            <Button type="button" variant="destructive" className="sm:mr-auto" onClick={onRemove}>
+              Remove client
+            </Button>
+          )}
+          <Button type="button" variant="outline" onClick={onClose}>
+            Cancel
+          </Button>
+          <Button type="button" disabled={isIncomplete(trimClient(draft))} onClick={onCommit}>
+            {draft.key === null ? "Add" : "Done"}
+          </Button>
+        </DialogFooter>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  );
+};
+
 const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken }) => {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
   const [privateRanges, setPrivateRanges] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [allowedClients, setAllowedClients] = useState<AllowedClientRow[]>([]);
+  const [clientIdHeader, setClientIdHeader] = useState("");
+  const [storedRanges, setStoredRanges] = useState<string[] | null>(null);
+  const [storedClients, setStoredClients] = useState<StoredAllowlist>(ABSENT);
+  const [storedClientIdHeader, setStoredClientIdHeader] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [currentIp, setCurrentIp] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [rangeDraft, setRangeDraft] = useState("");
+  const [clientDraft, setClientDraft] = useState<ClientDraft | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     loadSettings();
@@ -44,8 +184,18 @@ const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken })
     try {
       const settings = await getGeneralSettingsCall(accessToken);
       for (const field of settings) {
-        if (field.field_name === "mcp_internal_ip_ranges" && field.field_value) {
+        if (field.field_name === "mcp_internal_ip_ranges" && Array.isArray(field.field_value)) {
           setPrivateRanges(field.field_value);
+          setStoredRanges(field.field_value);
+        }
+        if (field.field_name === "mcp_allowed_clients") {
+          const stored = parseStoredClients(field.field_value);
+          setAllowedClients(stored.kind === "clients" ? stored.clients.map(newRow) : []);
+          setStoredClients(stored);
+        }
+        if (field.field_name === "mcp_client_id_header" && typeof field.field_value === "string") {
+          setClientIdHeader(field.field_value);
+          setStoredClientIdHeader(field.field_value);
         }
       }
     } catch (error) {
@@ -63,20 +213,56 @@ const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken })
     }
   };
 
+  const persistRanges = async (token: string) => {
+    if (unchangedSinceLoad(privateRanges, storedRanges)) return;
+    if (privateRanges.length > 0) {
+      await updateConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", privateRanges);
+      setStoredRanges(privateRanges);
+      return;
+    }
+    await deleteConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_internal_ip_ranges");
+    setStoredRanges(null);
+  };
+
+  const persistAllowedClients = async (token: string) => {
+    const clients = allowedClients.map(({ alias, value }) => ({ alias, value }));
+    if (clientsUnchangedSinceLoad(clients, storedClients)) return;
+    if (clients.length > 0) {
+      await updateConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_allowed_clients", clients);
+      setStoredClients({ kind: "clients", clients });
+      return;
+    }
+    await deleteConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_allowed_clients");
+    setStoredClients(ABSENT);
+  };
+
+  const persistClientIdHeader = async (token: string) => {
+    const value = clientIdHeader.trim();
+    if (headerUnchangedSinceLoad(value, storedClientIdHeader)) return;
+    if (value !== "") {
+      await updateConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_client_id_header", value);
+      setStoredClientIdHeader(value);
+      return;
+    }
+    await deleteConfigFieldSetting(token, "mcp_client_id_header");
+    setStoredClientIdHeader(null);
+  };
+
   const handleSave = async () => {
     if (!accessToken) return;
     setSaving(true);
-    try {
-      if (privateRanges.length > 0) {
-        await updateConfigFieldSetting(accessToken, "mcp_internal_ip_ranges", privateRanges);
-      } else {
-        await deleteConfigFieldSetting(accessToken, "mcp_internal_ip_ranges");
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error("Failed to save MCP network settings:", error);
-    } finally {
-      setSaving(false);
+    const [rangeResult] = await Promise.allSettled([persistRanges(accessToken)]);
+    const [clientResult] = await Promise.allSettled([persistAllowedClients(accessToken)]);
+    const [headerResult] = await Promise.allSettled([persistClientIdHeader(accessToken)]);
+    setSaving(false);
+    const failures = [rangeResult, clientResult, headerResult].filter(
+      (result): result is PromiseRejectedResult => result.status === "rejected",
+    );
+    if (failures.length === 0) {
+      toast.success("MCP network settings saved");
+      return;
     }
+    failures.forEach((failure) => toast.fromError(failure.reason));
   };
 
   const addSuggestedRange = (range: string) => {
@@ -86,17 +272,37 @@ const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken })
   };
 
   // Commas separate entries, matching the old tokenised input.
-  const commitDraft = () => {
-    const added = rangeDraft
+  const splitDraft = (draft: string, existing: string[]) =>
+    draft
       .split(",")
       .map((r) => r.trim())
-      .filter((r) => r !== "" && !privateRanges.includes(r));
+      .filter((r) => r !== "" && !existing.includes(r));
+
+  const commitDraft = () => {
+    const added = splitDraft(rangeDraft, privateRanges);
     if (added.length > 0) {
       setPrivateRanges([...privateRanges, ...added]);
     }
     setRangeDraft("");
   };
 
+  const commitClientDraft = () => {
+    if (clientDraft === null) return;
+    const client = trimClient(clientDraft);
+    setAllowedClients(
+      clientDraft.key === null
+        ? [...allowedClients, newRow(client)]
+        : allowedClients.map((row) => (row.key === clientDraft.key ? { ...row, ...client } : row)),
+    );
+    setClientDraft(null);
+  };
+
+  const removeDraftedClient = () => {
+    if (clientDraft === null) return;
+    setAllowedClients(allowedClients.filter((row) => row.key !== clientDraft.key));
+    setClientDraft(null);
+  };
+
   if (loading) {
     return (
       <div className="flex justify-center py-12">
@@ -106,6 +312,8 @@ const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken })
   }
 
   const suggestedRange = currentIp ? ipToSlash24(currentIp) : null;
+  const storedAllowlistIsMalformed = storedClients.kind === "malformed";
+  const storedAllowlistIsEmpty = storedClients.kind === "clients" && storedClients.clients.length === 0;
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-6 p-4">
@@ -178,12 +386,88 @@ const MCPNetworkSettings: React.FC<MCPNetworkSettingsProps> = ({ accessToken })
         </p>
       </Card>
 
+      <div>
+        <p className="text-lg font-semibold">Allowed Clients</p>
+        <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          Only the MCP client applications listed here can use the gateway. Leave empty to allow every client. A client
+          that authenticates with a JWT is identified by the claim named in litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field in
+          your proxy config (for example azp or client_id), which your identity provider asserts and the client cannot
+          change. Any other client is identified by the request header configured below, if you enable one.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+
+      <Card className="p-6">
+        {storedAllowlistIsMalformed && (
+          <p className="mb-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+            The stored allowlist is not a list of alias and value pairs, so every client is denied. Add the clients you
+            want and save to replace it, or save with the list empty to remove it and allow every client again.
+          </p>
+        )}
+        {storedAllowlistIsEmpty && (
+          <p className="mb-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+            An empty allowlist is currently stored, so every client is denied. Save with the list empty to remove it and
+            allow every client again.
+          </p>
+        )}
+        {allowedClients.length > 0 && (
+          <div className="mb-3 grid gap-2 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
+            {allowedClients.map((row) => (
+              <button
+                key={row.key}
+                type="button"
+                className="flex min-w-0 flex-col items-start gap-1 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background p-3 text-left hover:bg-muted focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none"
+                onClick={() => setClientDraft(row)}
+              >
+                <span className="w-full truncate text-sm font-medium">{row.alias}</span>
+                <span className="w-full truncate font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">{row.value}</span>
+              </button>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
+        <Button
+          type="button"
+          variant="outline"
+          size="sm"
+          onClick={() => setClientDraft({ key: null, alias: "", value: "" })}
+        >
+          <Plus />
+          Add client
+        </Button>
+        <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+          Click a client to edit or remove it. Leave the list empty to allow every client. Every MCP request from an
+          unlisted client, or from one with no resolvable identity, gets a 403.
+        </p>
+
+        <div className="mt-6 mb-2 flex items-center">
+          <p className="text-sm font-medium">Client Identity Header (less secure)</p>
+        </div>
+        <Input
+          aria-label="Client identity header"
+          value={clientIdHeader}
+          placeholder="Leave empty to identify clients by JWT only, e.g. x-mcp-client"
+          onChange={(e) => setClientIdHeader(e.target.value)}
+        />
+        <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+          Optional header whose value names the client for callers without a JWT identity. Clients pick this value
+          themselves, so it is a policy control rather than a security boundary. Without it, callers that do not carry
+          the JWT claim are rejected while the allowlist is set.
+        </p>
+      </Card>
+
       <div className="flex justify-end">
         <Button onClick={handleSave} disabled={saving}>
           <Save />
           Save
         </Button>
       </div>
+
+      <AllowedClientDialog
+        draft={clientDraft}
+        onChange={setClientDraft}
+        onCommit={commitClientDraft}
+        onRemove={removeDraftedClient}
+        onClose={() => setClientDraft(null)}
+      />
     </div>
   );
 };
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
index 136b8f26784..9f71880c610 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
@@ -26927,6 +26927,16 @@ export interface components {
              * @description Maximum retention period for spend logs (e.g., '7d' for 7 days). Logs older than this will be deleted.
              */
             maximum_spend_logs_retention_period?: string | null;
+            /**
+             * Mcp Allowed Clients
+             * @description MCP client applications admitted by the gateway, each an {alias, value} pair where alias is the name shown in the dashboard and logs and value is the identity that must match exactly. When set, every MCP request must carry a client identity equal to one of the values: a JWT caller is identified by the claim named in litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field, any other caller by the header named in mcp_client_id_header. A request with no resolvable identity, or an unlisted one, is rejected with 403. Unset means every client is admitted.
+             */
+            mcp_allowed_clients?: components["schemas"]["MCPAllowedClient"][] | null;
+            /**
+             * Mcp Client Id Header
+             * @description Request header whose value names the calling MCP client application (for example 'x-mcp-client') for callers that did not authenticate with a JWT, used only while mcp_allowed_clients is set. The client picks this value itself, so it is a policy control rather than a security boundary; prefer litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field where callers use JWTs.
+             */
+            mcp_client_id_header?: string | null;
             /**
              * Mcp Internal Ip Ranges
              * @description Custom CIDR ranges that define internal/private networks for MCP access control. When set, only these ranges are treated as internal. Defaults to RFC 1918 private ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16, 127.0.0.0/8).
@@ -32563,6 +32573,22 @@ export interface components {
              */
             status?: "healthy" | "unhealthy";
         };
+        /**
+         * MCPAllowedClient
+         * @description One entry of `general_settings.mcp_allowed_clients`.
+         */
+        MCPAllowedClient: {
+            /**
+             * Alias
+             * @description Human-readable name for this client application, shown in the dashboard and in gateway logs.
+             */
+            alias: string;
+            /**
+             * Value
+             * @description Exact value of the JWT claim named in litellm_jwtauth.mcp_client_id_jwt_field, or of the mcp_client_id_header header, that identifies this client application. Matched case-sensitively.
+             */
+            value: string;
+        };
         /** MCPConnectorEntry */
         MCPConnectorEntry: {
             /** Args */