Uzbekistan is reportedly preparing to roll out Apple Pay in the coming days, enabling contactless payments for users of Apple devices across the country. Concurrently, the controversial introduction of Google Pay has also been announced as part of a broader push to integrate foreign digital financial services.

According to statements from the Tourism Committee, technical preparations for the integration of Apple Pay are currently underway, involving the Central Bank, commercial banks, and domestic payment operators HUMO and Uzcard. However, authorities have refrained from disclosing a precise launch date for the service, raising questions about the readiness of the local infrastructure. *

In parallel, the authorities in Tashkent are aggressively promoting alternative payment mechanisms tailored for tourists from China and India. Back in August, the Alipay+ payment gateway was integrated into the HUMO infrastructure, allowing Chinese visitors to settle transactions by scanning UZQR codes through their native electronic wallets.

Furthermore, discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding the adoption of India's UPI payment system. During the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai, representatives from HUMO and NPCI International allegedly examined the technical framework for linking the two systems, which would supposedly allow Indian travelers to make purchases using familiar mobile applications.

Observers note that the integration of Google Pay was previously highlighted during the US-backed 'C5+1' regional meeting in Samarkand. Tourism officials claim that these sweeping digital updates will supposedly streamline contactless transactions for international visitors, though local market adaptation remains to be thoroughly tested.

Source: podrobno.uz