On 12 April 2026, BSA LAW Head of Banking & Finance, Arsalan Tariq, joined BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme for a live interview discussing Uzbekistan’s new legislation introducing Shari’a-compliant banking frameworks. The discussion explored how Shari’a financing differs from conventional systems and why this development is being viewed as a strategic geo-financial move positioning Uzbekistan as a gateway between the Gulf, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. With expectations that the new framework could unlock over $1 trillion in regional investment, Arsalan shared insights on the role Islamic finance can play in attracting capital flows and shaping cross-border financial activity.