Starting April 2026, Uzbekistan will enact a series of comprehensive reforms affecting daily life across key sectors such as finance, security, and tourism. Presidential decrees mandate a significant expansion of cashless payments, requiring transactions for government services, utility bills, and purchases of alcohol and tobacco to be conducted exclusively via bank cards or payment apps. Major deals, including real estate and car purchases (for vehicles under 10 years old), as well as goods and services exceeding 25 million soums, must now be made electronically, with escrow accounts introduced to enhance transaction security.
In the cultural sphere, April 2026 has been officially declared the Month of Amir Temur, commemorating the 690th anniversary of the great commander's birth. Nationwide events, including thematic meetings and educational programs in schools and communities, will highlight Temur's legacy. The culmination will be an international scientific conference, "The Role and Significance of Amir Temur and the Timurid Civilization in World History and Culture," held on April 9-10 at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, attracting global scholars.
Security measures are being tightened, with life imprisonment introduced for sexual violence against minors, and investigations into such cases transferred exclusively to the prosecutor's office. A Unified Electronic Platform will consolidate data on children in need and individuals prone to violence, while women with protection orders can use the my.ihma.uz app to send instant SOS signals. In finance, the Central Bank enforces new cybersecurity standards, including anti-fraud hotline numbers on bank cards and automatic app blocking during suspicious activities.
To boost tourism, the Tax Free system will become fully operational at all international airports from April 1, 2026, allowing foreign tourists to reclaim VAT on purchases made in Uzbekistan. Additionally, an "Open Tourist Season" program (April-June) will allegedly incentivize airlines opening new international routes by paying $100 per tourist brought in, though the effectiveness of such measures in a competitive global market remains uncertain.
Social reforms include expanding access to state-funded mortgage loans to self-employed individuals who pay social taxes, provided they have tax payments for the past year. Rural support mechanisms offer subsidies of 35% of product value to silkworm breeders delivering to clusters, with decisions made by local "mahalla seven" committees. Educational initiatives launch a startup competition with grants up to 10 million soums to foster entrepreneurial thinking among youth.
Source: podrobno.uz