Uzbekistan gears up for Apple Pay and Google Pay launch
After months of talks and years of waiting, Apple Pay and Google Pay may soon be made available in Uzbekistan, Kursiv reported, citing a Central Bank official.
Back in March this year, Uzbekistan amended its strict data localisation laws, enabling most types of personal data to be processed abroad if they meet the country’s information security standards.
«From the moment the amendments were adopted, the Central Bank, commercial banks, Humo and Uzcard immediately started negotiations with Google and Apple on the possibility of launching Apple Pay and Google Pay in Uzbekistan,» Jamshid Usmanov, director of the Central Bank’s Payment Systems Department, told Kursiv Uzbekistan on 29 July.
Digital card integration
Usmanov said that Uzbek commercial banks are already working on the technical integration with both Humo and Uzcard. Once this is complete, customers will be able to add Visa and Mastercard cards issued by Uzbek banks, as well as national cards, to their Apple and Google wallets.
«I think we will hear positive news from commercial banks in the coming months. It is also possible that one of the payment system operators will launch the service around the same time,» he said.
The Central Bank official would not be drawn on which banks would be first to introduce the service. Likely launch timings remain unclear as well.
Rollout delayed by data protection rules
A major obstacle to launching Apple Pay and Google Pay in Uzbekistan was a 2021 law. It required companies that handle Uzbek citizens’ personal data online to store it on servers within the country. This made it harder for international digital platforms that use global infrastructure to enter the market.
The issue was raised during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev‘s meeting with US business leaders in November 2025. Parliament approved the legislative changes in early 2026 before they were signed into law in March.
In May, Uzbekistan Airways began accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay on its website and in its app. However, this only let customers pay with existing Apple Pay or Google Pay wallets, not with cards from Uzbek banks.
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