Uzbekistan prepares for Apple Pay and Google Pay launch

The regulator told Spot that technical work is currently underway to enable the two international payment platforms in the country.

A source familiar with the matter said negotiations with Apple and Google are scheduled for September. The talks are expected to focus on preparations for launching the services rather than the launch itself.

The development follows legislative changes signed into law by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 26, amending the country's Law on Personal Data. The amendments removed the requirement to store all personal data on servers physically located in Uzbekistan. The localization requirement now applies only to biometric and genetic data, as well as subscriber data held by telecommunications operators. Other categories of personal data may be processed abroad provided certain legal conditions are met.

However, Shukhratbek Kurbanov, author of the Telegram channel Kurbanoff.net, said the legal changes alone do not guarantee the immediate arrival of Apple Pay or Google Pay.

According to him, the law establishes the conditions for cross-border data transfers but requires several implementing regulations before it can be fully applied. These include approving a list of countries that provide an adequate level of data protection, setting standard contractual requirements, and defining international standards for data storage. Three months after the law was adopted, none of these regulations had been approved.

"Until these measures are implemented, any cross-border transfer of personal data remains legally uncertain," Kurbanov said.

He also noted that even after the regulatory framework is completed, including Uzbekistan in the rollout plans for Apple Pay or Google Pay will remain a commercial decision for the companies themselves. The legal amendments create the necessary framework but do not guarantee that either company will enter the Uzbek market.

At the same time, Kurbanov said Uzbekistan's technical infrastructure is already capable of supporting the services. NFC-enabled payment terminals have become standard equipment in shops, pharmacies, cafes, and fuel stations across the country.

The possibility of bringing Apple Pay and Google Pay to Uzbekistan has been under discussion for several years.

During a visit to the United States in November 2025, President Mirziyoyev met with representatives of American companies, investment funds, and financial institutions, where he announced plans to amend legislation governing personal data and digital platforms. He said the reforms would create opportunities to launch Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as establish a digital academy and a network of startup hubs.

Earlier, in October 2024, the government instructed the Tourism Committee, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Digital Technologies to hold negotiations with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, PayPal, and UnionPay on integrating their services with Uzbekistan's payment infrastructure.

Business representatives have repeatedly argued that the previous data localization rules hindered the development of digital financial services. At the end of 2024, Oliver Hughes, head of international operations at TBC Bank, called for allowing banks to store personal data in cloud infrastructure both inside and outside Uzbekistan, describing the change as important for the country's artificial intelligence ambitions.

President Mirziyoyev supported the proposal and instructed the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Justice to prepare the necessary amendments, while stressing that the state "has no right to make mistakes" when handling personal data.

In August last year, TBC Uzbekistan CEO Nika Kurdiani also said that the personal data law was the main obstacle preventing Apple Pay and Google Pay from entering the Uzbek market because it prohibited companies from storing data on cloud servers located abroad.