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    AI in Uzbekistan: the rules, the readiness and where to start

    Last checked: 29 October 2026

    What should a company in Uzbekistan know before starting with AI?

    Uzbekistan has no standalone AI law as of 29 October 2026, but a law of 21 January 2026 added AI rules to the Law on Informatization and set fines for unlawful processing of personal data using AI. The Law on Personal Data, 2019 governs the data AI uses, and a March 2026 amendment changed which data must be stored in Uzbekistan. A company should keep a person in charge of decisions about people, check where its data is stored and follow the AI Strategy to 2030.

    At a glance

    Uzbekistan at a glance

    Key facts about Uzbekistan
    Data protection lawLaw on Personal Data, No. ZRU-547 of 2 July 2019, in force and amended in March 2026
    RegulatorCabinet of Ministers and an authorised state body for personal data; Ministry of Digital Technologies for digital policy
    AI policyAI Strategy to 2030 (October 2024) and AI amendments to the Law on Informatization (January 2026). No standalone AI law as of 29 October 2026
    Time zoneUTC+5 (India is 30 minutes ahead)
    CurrencyUZS (Uzbekistani soum)
    Business languageUzbek and Russian

    Why now

    Why Uzbekistan is worth watching

    Each point links to the document it comes from.

    • Law No. ZRU-1115 of 21 January 2026 gave AI a legal definition for the first time and came into force that day.[1]

    • The same law set fines of 50 to 100 base calculation amounts for unlawful processing of personal data using AI, which the ministry puts at up to 41.2 million soums.[2]

    • The AI Strategy to 2030, approved on 14 October 2024, targets USD 1.5 billion in AI-based software products and services.[4]

    • The strategy also aims for 10 AI research laboratories, high-performance computing servers and a place in the top 50 of the Government AI Readiness Index.[4]

    • Law No. ZRU-1125 of 26 March 2026 rewrote the rules on where personal data must be stored, in force from 27 March 2026.[5]

    The rules

    The rules that matter for AI

    What each law or policy means when you build or buy an AI system.

    Law No. ZRU-1115 of 21 January 2026 (AI amendments to the Law on Informatization)

    In force2026New article 7-1 says AI-made information resources and AI-based systems must not harm a person's life, health, freedom, honour or dignity. When a legally significant decision affects a person's rights, it may not rest solely on the conclusions of an AI system.[1]

    Code of Administrative Responsibility, article 46-2 part two (added by ZRU-1115)

    In force2026Unlawful processing of personal data using AI, or spreading it through media, telecom networks or the internet, carries a fine of 50 to 100 base calculation amounts and confiscation of the items used.[1]

    Law on Personal Data, No. ZRU-547 (2019)

    In force2019Under article 24, people have a right not to be subject to a decision with legal effects based only on automated processing. Exceptions are written consent, performing a contract and cases set by law. The operator must explain the procedure and its likely legal effects and let the person object. Transfers abroad go to countries giving equal protection, or under limited exceptions (article 15).[3]

    Law on Personal Data, article 27-1 (as amended by ZRU-1125 of 26 March 2026)

    In force2026Biometric data, genetic data and data on users of telecom operators working in Uzbekistan must be stored in Uzbekistan. Other personal data may be stored and processed abroad if the country is recognised as giving equal protection, if approved standard contract clauses or binding corporate rules are used, or if the operator follows approved international standards.[5]

    Where AI fits first

    Where AI fits first

    Banking and finance

    Fraud alerts, document checks and customer service in Uzbek and Russian.

    Credit or account decisions with legal effects cannot rest only on AI under article 7-1, and article 24 of the personal data law gives people a right to object.[1]

    Public services

    Assistants on government portals that answer questions and route requests.

    The AI Strategy aims to raise the share of AI-powered services on the unified public services portal to 10%.[4]

    Telecom

    Network fault prediction and support chat.

    Data on users of telecom operators working in Uzbekistan must be stored in Uzbekistan under article 27-1.[5]

    Media and marketing

    Drafting content and generating images for campaigns.

    Spreading personal data that was unlawfully processed with AI through media or the internet is an administrative offence under article 46-2.[1]

    Your first steps

    Your first steps

    1. List every decision your AI makes about people and make sure a person takes the final decision where rights are affected.
    2. Give people a written explanation of any automated decision and a simple way to object, as article 24 requires.
    3. Map where personal data is stored, and keep biometric, genetic and telecom user data in Uzbekistan.
    4. For other data sent to a foreign cloud or AI service, choose one of the article 27-1 conditions, such as approved standard contract clauses.
    5. Check that you have a lawful basis, usually consent, for personal data used to train or run AI.
    6. Register databases that must stay in Uzbekistan under article 27-1 with the state register of personal data databases (article 20).
    7. Watch for ethics rules and standards that the Ministry of Digital Technologies is preparing.

    AI services for Uzbekistan

    AI consulting and development for teams in Uzbekistan

    We work remotely with companies in Uzbekistan, in your time zone, and keep your data under the rules described above.

    AI agents and automation

    Agents that finish multi-step work across your tools, with people approving what matters.
    Learn more

    Document Q&A (RAG)

    Answers from your own documents, with the source shown for every answer.
    Learn more

    AI governance and data protection

    Policies, review steps and audit trails that fit your local data law.
    Learn more

    Software and cloud engineering

    Web apps, integrations and cloud platforms built around your AI use case.
    Learn more

    How we work with you

    How we work with you

    We work remotely with clients worldwide, in the client's time zone. Uzbekistan is on UTC+5 and India on UTC+5:30, so India is 30 minutes ahead. A 9:00 to 18:00 day in Tashkent runs from 9:30 to 18:30 in India, so the whole working day overlaps.

    Questions

    Common questions about AI in Uzbekistan

    Does Uzbekistan have an AI law?

    Not a standalone one as of 29 October 2026. Law No. ZRU-1115 of 21 January 2026 added a definition of AI and basic rules to the Law on Informatization, and added a fine to the Code of Administrative Responsibility.

    Can AI make decisions about customers on its own?

    Not where a legally significant decision affects a person's rights. Article 7-1 of the Law on Informatization forbids relying solely on AI conclusions in those cases, and article 24 of the personal data law limits decisions based only on automated processing.

    Can I store personal data outside Uzbekistan?

    Since 27 March 2026, yes for most data if one of the article 27-1 conditions is met. Biometric data, genetic data and telecom user data must still be stored in Uzbekistan.

    What is the fine for misusing personal data with AI?

    50 to 100 base calculation amounts, with confiscation of the items used. The Ministry of Digital Technologies puts this at up to 41.2 million soums.

    Complimentary tools

    Try these first

    Three complimentary tools from our AI Toolkit that suit a team starting out.

    AI readiness score

    Answer a few questions and see where your team stands, in about five minutes.
    Open the tool

    AI use case triage

    Test an idea against data, risk and effort before you spend on it.
    Open the tool

    AI project cost estimator

    Get a rough build and run cost range for a first AI project.
    Open the tool

    Read next

    Sources

    Sources

    Facts checked on 29 October 2026. Numbers in square brackets above match this list.
    1. [1] National Legal Information Centre (lex.uz), 2026-01-21. Law No. ZRU-1115 of 21.01.2026 on amendments related to the use of arti…(lex.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Law No. ZRU-1115 of 21.01.2026 on amendments related to the use of artificial intelligence. Primary. Official text read in full (Russian). Used for the AI definition, article 7-1, the new article 46-2 fine and entry into force on 21 January 2026.

    2. [2] Ministry of Digital Technologies, 2026-01-21. Liability established for the illegal processing of personal data using…(gov.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Liability established for the illegal processing of personal data using artificial intelligence. Primary ministry release. Used for the fine converted to soums (up to 41.2 million).

    3. [3] National Legal Information Centre (lex.uz), 2019-07-02. Law on Personal Data, No. ZRU-547 of 2 July 2019 (current edition)(lex.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Law on Personal Data, No. ZRU-547 of 2 July 2019 (current edition). Primary. Official current text (Uzbek) read. Used for articles 6, 15, 20, 24 and 27-1.

    4. [4] Ministry of Digital Technologies, 2024-10-16. Presidential Decree Approval of the Strategy for Artificial Intelligenc…(gov.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Presidential Decree Approval of the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence Development until 2030 announced. Primary ministry release. Used for the strategy's targets. Checked against the decree text on lex.uz (RP-358 of 14 October 2024).

    5. [5] National Legal Information Centre (lex.uz), 2026-03-26. Law No. ZRU-1125 of 26.03.2026 amending the Law on Personal Data(lex.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Law No. ZRU-1125 of 26.03.2026 amending the Law on Personal Data. Primary. Official text (Uzbek) read. Used for the new article 27-1 and entry into force on official publication, 27 March 2026.

    6. [6] National Legal Information Centre (lex.uz), 2024-10-14. On the approval of the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intel…(lex.uz)
      Full title and what we used it for

      On the approval of the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030 (RP-358). Primary decree text (English version on lex.uz). Used to confirm the 10% portal target, 10 laboratories and the top 50 readiness goal.

    This is general information, not legal advice. We read the official texts in Uzbek and Russian, and translations of legal terms may differ from official English versions. Ethics rules for AI were reported in 2026, but we could not read their text, so they are not covered here. Check with a qualified Uzbek lawyer before you act. Facts checked on 29 October 2026.

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