Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Uzbekistan is actively taking measures to evacuate its citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended temporarily refraining from travel to the region, while diplomatic missions organized round-the-clock monitoring, hotlines, and a call center. From March 1 to 5, the government facilitated the return of 9,361 Uzbek nationals, primarily from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Iran, and Oman. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with leaders of Oman, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan, discussing peaceful conflict resolution and citizen protection.
In domestic policy, several important decisions have been made. The president signed a decree strengthening the protection of women and children, providing for administrative detention of up to 5 days for harassment and considering life imprisonment for sexual crimes against children. Additionally, starting April 1, self-employed citizens will be able to obtain mortgage loans on par with officially employed individuals. In new construction projects, the timeline for building apartment blocks is reduced by 1.5 times, with a special status introduced for "New Uzbekistan" projects.
Changes are also observed in infrastructure and technology sectors. Tashkent's new general plan allows for the construction of buildings up to 28–40 stories in certain districts (e.g., Beshagach, Mirabad, Uchtepa), accelerating high-rise development. The Central Bank introduced a voluntary function for indicating the purpose of P2P transfers, aimed at reducing the shadow economy but perceived by citizens as additional oversight. The Road Safety Service began automatically detecting drivers without licenses using facial recognition cameras, with fines of 50 times the base calculation amount (20.6 million soum) or imprisonment up to 3 years for repeat offenses.
In economic and social spheres, innovations continue. The minimum consumer expenditure (MCE) for 2026 is set at 715,000 soum, a 6.9% increase from 2025. The social gas norm remains at 500 cubic meters until March 15, protecting citizens from financial burdens in cold weather. However, workers at the oil service company Eriell reported salary delays since May 2025, reflecting financial issues in projects linked to entrepreneur Bakhtiyor Fazilov.
Cultural heritage and the international situation are also in focus. The dismantling of a wall at the Kukeldash Madrasah in Bukhara is related to restoration work but raises concerns due to a lack of transparent information. International conflicts in Iran and the Pakistan-Afghanistan zone may indirectly affect Uzbekistan's economy, as Iran remains a key transit route for exports. Meanwhile, the US and Israeli airstrike on a school in Iran, which killed 175 people, mostly children, is classified as a gross violation of international humanitarian law.
Source: kun.uz