Uzbekistan is taking another step toward introducing Apple Pay and Google Pay. According to the Central Bank, technical integration efforts are currently underway, while negotiations with Apple and Google regarding the launch of their mobile payment services are scheduled for September 2026.
Apple Pay and Google Pay are among the world’s leading mobile payment platforms, allowing users to link their bank cards to smartphones and smartwatches and make secure contactless payments using NFC technology.
Although Uzbekistan has supported NFC-enabled payment terminals for several years, local bank cards have not been compatible with either platform. As a result, only users with foreign-issued payment cards have been able to use Apple Pay or Google Pay within the country.
The primary obstacle has not been technological infrastructure but regulation. Until recently, Uzbekistan’s data localization requirements required citizens’ personal data to be stored on servers located within the country. These requirements conflicted with the global infrastructure used by Apple and Google, preventing both companies from officially entering the Uzbek market.
Legislative amendments adopted in 2026 eased these restrictions, creating a legal framework that makes the entry of international digital payment platforms possible. According to the Central Bank, technical integration with international payment systems is already in progress. Negotiations planned for September will focus on the next steps required to launch Apple Pay and Google Pay in Uzbekistan.
However, the regulator has not announced an official launch date. At this stage, the process remains focused on technical preparation and regulatory coordination rather than commercial rollout. The arrival of Apple Pay and Google Pay could represent an important milestone in Uzbekistan’s digital payments ecosystem. Consumers would be able to add their bank cards to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and make fast, secure contactless payments using smartphones or wearable devices.
For the financial sector, the launch could accelerate digital banking adoption, strengthen the country’s fintech ecosystem, and increase the share of cashless transactions. It would also bring Uzbekistan’s payment infrastructure closer to international standards while improving convenience for both consumers and businesses.
Although no official launch timeline has been confirmed, the Central Bank’s announcement indicates that preparations have entered a more advanced stage. If the planned negotiations are successful, Apple Pay and Google Pay could soon become available to users in Uzbekistan for the first time.
