Uzbek Lawmakers Approve 49-Year Land Lease Term

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Oliy Majlis has approved in its second reading a draft law aimed at streamlining rights to land plots.

The bill provides for increasing the maximum lease period for agricultural and non-agricultural land to 49 years.

Under the draft law, the lease period for agricultural land would be extended from the current 30 years to 49 years. The same maximum period would apply to non-agricultural land.

The document also establishes procedures for granting foreign citizens, stateless persons, foreign legal entities and enterprises with foreign participation the right to use agricultural land through sublease arrangements.

Ahead of the second reading, the bill was revised by the responsible parliamentary committee together with lawmakers, specialists from relevant ministries and agencies, taking into account law enforcement practices.

In particular, the document systematises existing rules governing the allocation of land to foreign citizens, taking into account international experience.

At the same time, the bill introduces a ban on granting foreigners access to defence land, border territories, historical and cultural heritage land, and forest fund land.

The draft law also simplifies procedures for leasing non-agricultural land. It provides for the possibility of obtaining land plots through auctions with subsequent transfer of the plots for sublease.

The bill also establishes the right to lease land plots where individual residential houses are located.

According to lawmakers, the adoption of the document will improve legal certainty in land relations, strengthen state oversight, increase the country's investment attractiveness and ensure more efficient use of land resources.

Following discussion, lawmakers approved the draft law in its second reading.