PROSPECTS FOR USING ISLAMIC FINTECH TECHNOLOGIES IN SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING IN UZBEKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21339281Abstract
The article explores the prospects of applying Islamic fintech technologies to small-business financing in
Uzbekistan. While global Islamic fintech transactions were estimated at USD 198 billion in 2024/25 and are projected to reach
USD 341 billion by 2029, three enabling conditions have emerged in Uzbekistan: the 2026 law introducing Islamic banking
together with tax neutrality, broad mobile-banking penetration, and strong latent demand from entrepreneurs who avoid
conventional credit for religious reasons. Based on the GIFT and IFDI reports, an analysis of national regulations and the IMAN
platform case study, the paper identifies the Islamic fintech business models suited to small-business financing (halal BNPL,
mudaraba platforms, digital sukuk, BaaS-based Islamic windows, marketplace-embedded financing), proposes a technology
model, and substantiates the implementation barriers and their national solutions.
Keywords
Islamic fintech, small business, murabaha, mudaraba, sukuk, halal BNPL, digital platform, financial inclusion, Uzbekistan.References
Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic
of Uzbekistan” (introducing Islamic banking). Signed on 27 March 2026; effective from 29 June 2026. Official coverage:
Kun.uz, 30.03.2026. URL: https://kun.uz/en/news/2026/03/30/uzbekistan-establishes-legal-framework-for-islamic-bankingactivities;
Salaam Gateway, 13.04.2026. URL: https://salaamgateway.com/story/uzbekistan-adopts-law-establishing-legalframework-
for-islamic-banking
Uzbekistan prepares legal foundation for Islamic finance system // Kun.uz. 11.11.2025. URL: https://kun.uz/en/
news/2025/11/11/uzbekistan-prepares-legal-foundation-for-islamic-finance-system
Uzbekistan drafts bill to introduce Islamic banking // Kun.uz. 15.09.2025. URL: https://kun.uz/en/news/2025/09/15/
uzbekistan-drafts-bill-to-introduce-islamic-banking
Uzbekistan to Adopt Islamic Banking Law Soon // UzDaily.uz. 14.01.2026. URL: https://www.uzdaily.uz/en/
uzbekistan-to-adopt-islamic-banking-law-soon/
Uzbekistan Approves the Law on Islamic Finance: Strategic Implications // SpecialEurasia. 07.04.2026. URL:
https://www.specialeurasia.com/2026/04/07/uzbekistan-islamic-finance-law/
Uzbekistan to introduce Islamic banking to widen financial ambit, beckon investors // Salaam Gateway. 09.02.2026.
LSEG, ICD. Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI) Report 2025: 50 Years of Exponential Growth. London,
global-islamic-finance-assets-projected-to-reach-us97-trillion-by-2029
ICD–LSEG. Islamic Finance Development Report 2024: From Niche to Norm. London, 2024. URL: https://www.
lseg.com/content/dam/ftse-russell/en_us/documents/reports/ifdi-report-lseg-2024.pdf
DinarStandard, Elipses. Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) Report 2025/26. Doha, 2026. URL: https://www.qfc.qa/en/
media-centre/news/list/gift-report-2025---2026
DinarStandard, Elipses. Global Islamic Fintech Report 2024/25. 2025. URL: https://www.qfc.qa/-/media/project/
qfc/qfcwebsite/documentfiles/research/global-islamic-fintech-report-2024-25.pdf
Asadov A. Empirical Analysis of Demand for Sukuk in Uzbekistan // Economies. 2024. Vol. 12, No. 8. Art. 220.
DOI: 10.3390/economies12080220
UNDP IICPSD. Pre-Feasibility Study for Green Sukuk Issuance in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Istanbul, 2020. URL:
UNDP in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank supports the Government of Uzbekistan in developing
the enabling environment for Islamic Finance instruments // UNDP Uzbekistan. 13.09.2024. URL: https://www.undp.org/
uzbekistan/press-releases/undp-cooperation-islamic-development-bank-supports-government-uzbekistan-developingenabling-
environment-islamic-finance
Maxmudova M.Z. Digital transformation of banks in Uzbekistan and its impact on financial stability // International
Finance and Accounting. 2025. No. 4 (August). ISSN 2181-1016. (In Uzbek.) URL: https://interfinance.tsue.uz/wp-content/
uploads/2025/10/12Maxmudova-Maloxat.pdf
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-5992 of 12 May 2020 “On the Strategy for Reforming
the Banking System of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020–2025”. (In Uzbek.) URL: https://yuz.uz/uz/news/20202025-
yillarga-moljallangan-ozbekiston-respublikasining-bank-tizimini-isloh-qilish-strategiyasi-togrisida
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-6207 of April 2021 “On Measures for the Further
Development of the Capital Market”. Commentary: Azizov & Partners. Overview of the Securities Market Regulation in
Uzbekistan. URL: https://azizovpartners.uz/en/memos/overview-of-the-securities-market-regulation-in-uzbekistan/
IMAN — Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding. URL: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/iman-2495
(accessed 6 July 2026)
IMANUM official website. URL: https://imanum.app/en (accessed 6 July 2026)
Uzbekistan-based fintech startup in Islamic financing closes its $1 million seed round // The Tribune. 24.02.2022.
Usmani M.T. An Introduction to Islamic Finance. The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 2002.
El-Gamal M.A. Islamic Finance: Law, Economics, and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Iqbal Z., Mirakhor A. An Introduction to Islamic Finance: Theory and Practice. 2nd ed. Singapore: John Wiley &
Sons, 2011.
Baydaulet Ye.A. Osnovy eticheskikh (islamskikh) finansov [Fundamentals of Ethical (Islamic) Finance]: textbook.
Pavlodar, 2014. (In Russian.)
“There has never been this much funding before.” The President on support for small and medium-sized business
// Gazeta.uz. 19.03.2025. (In Uzbek.) URL: https://www.gazeta.uz/oz/2025/03/19/small-business/
Uzbekistan’s GDP reached 1.45 quadrillion soums in 2024 // Gazeta.uz. 07.02.2025. (In Uzbek.) URL: https://
www.gazeta.uz/oz/2025/02/07/gdp-uzbekistan/

