Uzbekistan may extend land lease terms for foreign investors from 25 to 49 years

Currently, the land rights of foreign citizens, stateless persons, foreign legal entities, and enterprises with foreign investment are scattered across various regulatory and legal acts. This fragmented framework has created certain legal ambiguities in practice. At the same time, authorities have noted an increasing number of proposals from investors seeking to launch long-term projects in the country.

To address these challenges, the bill introduces a dedicated chapter into the Land Code to regulate the land plot rights of foreign individuals, stateless persons, foreign companies, and joint ventures. It also explicitly defines the grounds and terms under which foreign investors can lease land plots, while establishing the specific land rights applicable to foreign diplomatic missions.

Under the proposed legislation, the maximum lease term of land plots for foreign investors will be extended from 25 to 49 years. In addition, the bill proposes standardizing the procedure for leasing agricultural land to land users and tenants for a fixed term of 49 years, replacing the current 30-year limit.

Lawmakers emphasize that adopting the law will ensure transparency in land relations, systematize existing regulations, enhance the investment attractiveness of real estate and land assets, and contribute to the creation of new jobs. Following the successful first-reading vote, the bill will undergo further legislative review.

This parliamentary action follows a related decree issued by the Cabinet of Ministers on May 18, which approved the administrative regulations for extending land lease agreements. That earlier document established specific state service standards for renewing land plot lease contracts, creating a streamlined administrative framework that compliments these newly proposed statutory extensions.