Drones in Uzbekistan: Rules Are Changing — What It Means for Suppliers
The president has ordered wider use of drones in the economy. We look at what tenders may appear and how to prepare for them.
What happened
On 4 November, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on expanding the use of unmanned aircraft systems in economic sectors and regulating the field. UzA and Gazeta.uz reported this. Civilian drone use in the country is currently limited, so the plan is to revise legislation, create a unified drone registry, and define flight zones. Separately, Spot.uz writes that from 2027, Tashkent Transport University plans to train drone specialists.
The context is simple: drones are already used in agriculture, industry, and transport, but without clear rules it is hard to buy them and related services. Customers need legal flights, aircraft registration, and trained staff. Until that exists, purchases are sporadic. If the rules are adopted, demand will become systematic.
What it means for suppliers
Those who work at the intersection of three areas will benefit. First, supplying the aircraft and components: drones, batteries, charging stations, cameras, and sensors. Second, related equipment and services: repair, operator training, image processing software, geodesy, and cartography. Third, integration into industries: crop monitoring, power line inspection, construction site control, logistics.
You should prepare in advance. Customers will need documents for the equipment, proof of specifications, and experience with similar work. If you supply equipment, check whether you have certificates and technical passports in Russian and Uzbek. If you provide services, prepare descriptions of methods and operator qualifications.
It is impossible to say exactly when tenders will appear: regulations and a registry system are needed first. But purchases for training and pilot projects may come earlier, following the decision to train personnel. Watch announcements in the sections "Agriculture", "Equipment and Machinery", "IT", and "Education and Training".
According to TenderLabs data as of 5 November 2026, there are 897 lots open in the "Equipment and Machinery" sector, 326 in "Agriculture", and 1,190 in "IT". This is the total volume by sector, not only for drones, but it shows where to look for related purchases.
What to do now
- Check which of your goods and services could fall under future purchases: drones, components, repair, training, data processing.
- Assemble a document package: certificates, technical passports, instructions, proof of experience.
- Create or update your supplier profile on tender platforms and subscribe to notifications for the relevant sectors.
- Find two or three potential customers in agriculture, energy, or transport and propose a pilot project.
- If you don't have operators, plan training — from 2027 such specialists will be in demand.
One short tip: don't wait for the final rules. Customers are already formulating requirements for drones, and whoever shows readiness first will gain an advantage.
Photo: UzA