News

Saudi Arabia has introduced stricter penalties for unauthorised pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season, effective from April 29 through June 10, as reported by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior.

Under the new regulations, individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a proper visa will face fines of 20,000 Saudi riyals (approximately $5,300). The rule specifically targets foreign nationals who enter the country without an official Hajj visa.

Those caught trying to arrange Hajj visas for undocumented pilgrims could face fines of up to 100,000 riyals (around $26,000). Offenders also risk deportation and a 10-year ban from re-entering...

Pakistan has warned of a potential military strike from India in the coming days, citing intelligence reports, according to Reuters.

Islamabad believes Indian forces may carry out military action against Pakistan soon. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have intensified following a terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir in April this year.

Indian authorities claim Pakistani nationals were among the attackers. Pakistan has denied involvement and called for an investigation into the incident.

While condemning the attack, Islamabad has stated it is prepared to respond to any aggression from India.

Reports say Indian and Pakistani troops have exchanged...

HeadHunter has analysed job vacancies for manual and service roles in Uzbekistan and revealed that median monthly salaries across popular occupations range from UZS 3 mln to UZS 7 mln (USD 232 to USD 541).

Sales consultants and cashiers remain the most in-demand professionals in 2025. Their median salary stands at UZS 4.7 mln (USD 364) with vacancies for these roles increasing by 35 percent compared to the same period last year.

Call centre operators and sales representatives also rank among the top three most sought-after roles with employers offering UZS 4.8 mln (USD 372) and UZS 7 mln (USD...

Uzbekistan’s economy continues to expand, with gross domestic product reaching UZS 333.5 trillion ($25.77 bn) in the first quarter of 2025, according to the State Statistics Agency.

The annual growth rate stands at 6.8%, up from UZS 276.9 trillion ($21.39 bn) recorded in January to March 2024.

Key sectors have driven the economic expansion. The services sector has grown from 55.9% to 56.1% of GDP while industry has increased from 27.8% to 27.9%.

Hackers can exploit Apple’s AirPlay technology to gain unauthorised access to devices via public Wi-Fi networks, according to a report by Wired citing Israeli cybersecurity firm Oligo.

AirPlay, widely used for wirelessly streaming media to TVs and speakers, contains serious vulnerabilities. These flaws allow attackers to infiltrate devices simply by connecting to the same Wi-Fi network shared in public spaces like cafes, hotels, or airports.

Through the exploit, malicious actors can install spyware, ransomware, or other malware without the user’s knowledge. Experts warn that millions of devices worldwide could be at risk, including Apple products like iPhones and MacBooks...

Construction has officially begun on three railway tunnels in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the ambitious China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project, according to the project implementation office.

The tunnels will span a total of 38 kilometers and mark a key milestone in the development of this major transnational route. Officials from both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
The planned railway will stretch over 532.5 kilometers, connecting China to Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan.

The project includes the construction of over 40 bridges, more than 20 tunnels, and several border and freight stations to facilitate cross-border trade and transportation.

The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project...

On May 15, 2025, Tashkent will host Uzbekistan’s first industry event dedicated to social media analytics. Organised by Brand Analytics, the Brand Analytics Conference Uzbekistan 2025: Social Media Analytics for Business will focus on how businesses in Uzbekistan and Central Asia can leverage social media insights for growth and efficiency.

In a single day, participants will explore how social media analytics enhances marketing, PR and customer support and discover cutting-edge AI tools for analysing media trends and public sentiment. The conference will also feature the latest research on social networks in Uzbekistan, continuing Brand Analytics’ ongoing series on the...

Four individuals have been sentenced for organising a large-scale smuggling operation through underground tunnels beneath the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, according to Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SGB).

Three residents of Andijan Region were each sentenced to five years in prison for violating customs laws. A fourth member of the group, a Kyrgyz citizen,received a six-year prison sentence.

The smugglers had built two underground tunnels connecting the Uzbek city of Khanabad to the village of Bekabad in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad Region. The tunnels were 15 meters deep, and the longest extended nearly 350 meters.

These clandestine routes illegally transported mobile phones, electronic devices...

Uzbekistan’s Senate has officially approved a draft law on bank bailout, marking the introduction of a formal mechanism to stabilise troubled financial institutions, according to a statement from the upper house of parliament.

The new legislation aims to support banks facing financial difficulties by injecting funds or restructuring operations. Senators emphasised that until now, Uzbekistan lacked a legal framework for bailout banks.

The law outlines the roles and responsibilities of officials in charge of bank bailout, details recovery mechanisms and establishes procedures for forced closure when recovery is no longer viable.

“The adoption of this...

Online commerce in Uzbekistan remains underdeveloped, making up only 3% of the country’s total retail turnover, according to new data from INFOLine, an analytical agency specialising in consumer markets across Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

In stark contrast, Kazakhstan reports 20% of its retail sales through online channels, while Belarus has reached 14%. In Uzbekistan, 84% of retail transactions still occur in traditional “bazaars” and open-air markets, while only 13% are conducted through modern retail chains.

Despite its current lag, experts see significant potential for growth in Uzbekistan’s e-commerce sector. The country’s population has reached 37.5 million...

Real estate activity in Uzbekistan continued to decline in March 2025, marking the second consecutive monthly drop, according to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR). The total number of property transactions fell by 8.8% compared to the previous month, totalling 20,400 deals.

Despite the short-term slowdown, annual figures show a 15% increase in transactions compared to March 2024. The regions of Jizzakh and Navoi led the growth in market activity.

The average property price on the secondary housing market rose by 0.9% year-over-year. The fastest price increases were recorded in Jizzakh (+12.3%), Surkhandarya (+10.7%), and Kashkadarya...

As of the first quarter of 2025, Uzbekistan was home to more than 1.2 mln small businesses, according to the latest data released by the National Statistics Committee.

The Andijan region leads in the number of small enterprises, with 131,600 registered businesses. It is followed by Samarkand with 129,500, and Tashkent with 126,500.

Small businesses accounted for 45.6% of Uzbekistan’s GDP at the start of April. This marks a slight decline compared to 46.7% in the same period of 2024.

In terms of investment, the sector attracted over 72.7 trillion soums ($5.8 bn) from January to March...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan is preparing to strengthen its oversight of large-scale bank transfers, according to Deputy Chairman Sodir Melibaev, who addressed lawmakers from the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

The regulator is currently working on a new draft law aimed at regulating payment services and introducing preventive measures against violations in the sector.

Melibaev highlighted the rising threat of online payment fraud, stressing the need to implement anti-fraud mechanisms and biometric systems for user identification.

The proposed legislation will also classify violations by payment service providers into three categories — minor, serious and gross. Sanctions will...

Greece has officially opened its embassy in Tashkent, marking a new chapter in diplomatic relations between Greece and Uzbekistan. The Greek diplomatic mission will be headed by Ambassador Paraskevi Tseveleki, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry announced.

«We welcome the opening of the Greek Embassy in Tashkent and believe it will contribute to the dynamic expansion of our partnership,» said Bakhtiyor Saidov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The minister accepted Ambassador Tseveleki’s credentials on Tuesday, April 29. During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding trade, economic cooperation and strengthening humanitarian ties between the countries.

Diplomatic relations between Tashkent and Athens were...

Belgium hosted the 5th European Seagull Cry Championship, drawing around 60 participants from 14 countries, as reported by the BBC Russian Service.

The quirky competition invites participants to imitate the screeching calls of seagulls, with many dressing in feathers and bird costumes to complete the experience. The event has become a blend of performance art and ecological awareness.

This year’s winner, year’s Brinald from Denmark, said she trained by watching TikTok videos, practising in front of a mirror, and mimicking real gulls back home.

Organisers say the championship aims to reframe public attitudes toward seagulls, reminding people that these...

Russian company Transport of the Future starts drone manufacturing in Uzbekistan, TASS reports, citing CEO Yury Kozarenko.

The construction of the drone production facility has already begun. The plant will begin operations by the end of 2025. According to Transport of the Future, the demand for the company’s products will exceed $100 mln annually. The drones assembled in Uzbekistan will be sold domestically and exported to Russia.

In the first stage, the localisation of production in Uzbekistan will reach around 50%.

The company’s CEO also discussed the prospects for civilian drone use and production in Uzbekistan. He noted that the...

Uzbekistan and India’s military forces have conducted two-week-long joint exercises named Druzhba in Pune, India, as reported by the press centre of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence. At the time of publication, the news had been removed from the ministry’s website.

During the exercises, the two countries’ armed forces practiced searching for, identifying, and eliminating a simulated enemy within an urban setting.

In the 2025 Global Firepower ranking, India’s military ranks fourth. The country’s armed forces consist of over 1.4 mln personnel, with a defence budget of $75 bn.

Uzbekistan ranks 58th in the same ranking, with a defence...

The average monthly salary in Uzbekistan reached UZS 5.7 mln (USD 442) by early April 2025, rising 18% year-on-year, according to data from the National Statistics Agency.

Nominal salaries in Tashkent climbed 22.7% over the year to UZS 9.8 mln (USD 760). In the Navoi region, the figure stood at UZS 7.3 mln (USD 566) following a 12.6% rise. Tashkent region ranked third with an average salary of UZS 5.4 mln (USD 419).

Over the past year, salaries in banking and finance exceeded UZS 15.8 mln (USD 1,225). In the IT sector, the figure reached UZS 14.8 mln (USD...

The UN General Assembly has adopted Uzbekistan’s resolution declaring 2027–2036 the Decade of Reforestation and Forest Restoration.

The document reflects the key initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including the Yashil Makon (Green Nation) project and the Green Belt of Central Asia programme.

More than 80 countries helped prepare the resolution, among them states from Central Asia as well as Western and Eastern Europe.

The Government of Uzbekistan confirmed the adoption through its official press service.

Uzbekistan has been unanimously elected as a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission for the term 2026 to 2029, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

Established in 1947 under the UN Economic and Social Council, the Statistical Commission plays a central role in coordinating global data collection, supporting the development of national statistical systems and setting international standards. The body also advises other UN institutions and facilitates the exchange of expertise among countries.

The commission comprises 24 member states elected for four-year terms. Four seats are allocated to representatives from the Asia-Pacific region.

On April 30, a special charter flight will depart from New York City to Tashkent, repatriating Uzbek citizens residing illegally in the United States.

The flight is part of a bilateral agreement between the two countries aimed at ensuring the safe and dignified return of individuals who have overstayed visas or violated U.S. immigration regulations.

The operation is being coordinated by the migration and consular services of both Uzbekistan and the United States and is described by officials as a measure to protect the rights of Uzbek nationals while complying with legal procedures.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that...

Spain and Portugal have been hit by the largest power outage in decades, leaving nearly the entire mainland without electricity.

At approximately 12:30 PM local time, a sudden blackout disrupted public transportation, traffic lights, and ATMs, forcing hospitals to switch to backup generators. Despite the widespread disruption, Bloomberg reports that stock markets continued operating normally.
Major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon were among the worst affected. Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN are working to restore power, although the exact cause of the outage has not yet been officially confirmed.

Authorities are currently investigating several possible...

South Korea’s KOICA agency will support a new initiative this year to train residents of Uzbekistan and Thailand for work at South Korean shipyards, Yonhap News Agency reports. The program aims to train more than 100 participants.

The development and implementation of the training program are being led by the government of Ulsan, a major industrial city in South Korea, in cooperation with Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Previously, South Korean authorities trained 53 Vietnamese workers at the Korea-Vietnam Technology University, equipping them not only with shipbuilding skills but also with Korean language proficiency.

“We will continue to support the trainees...

Uzbekistan’s rhythmic gymnastics team claimed an impressive ten medals — including two golds — at the third stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, held in Tashkent from April 25 to 27.

On the final day of competition, Takhmina Ikromova secured gold in the hoop event.

The team also earned five silver medals:

Three bronze medals were awarded to:

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbek judoka Zamokhshari Bekmurodov won silver at the Asian Judo...