Saudi Arabia weighs $138m financing for housing and road projects in Uzbekistan

According to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, the potential projects include the construction of affordable housing in Karakalpakstan and the reconstruction and repair of damaged road bridges. Both initiatives are currently at the evaluation stage and have been identified as priority areas for bilateral cooperation.

The issue was discussed on 23 January during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, and Sultan Al-Marshad, chief executive officer of the Saudi Fund for Development. The talks focused on the current state of cooperation and prospects for expanding partnership between Uzbekistan and the fund.

Over the years, the Saudi Fund for Development has financed projects in Uzbekistan across a range of sectors, including healthcare, education, water supply and irrigation, housing, and transport infrastructure. The existing joint project portfolio now comprises 11 initiatives with a total value of $287.4 million.

Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue deepening cooperation, implement socially significant projects, and expand collaboration in priority sectors in line with Uzbekistan’s national development interests.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as of 1 October 2025 Uzbekistan’s public external debt to the Saudi Fund for Development stood at $134 million.