Developing mahallas and investing in human capital are key priorities for the country’s advancement.
Uzbekistan has summed up the results of its large-scale reforms implemented in 2026.
The designation of 2026 as the “Year of Mahalla and Community Development” by Presidential Decree established a key direction for the country’s state and legal initiatives.
Over the past period, significant legal and institutional reforms have been implemented, aimed at decentralizing governance, increasing the financial independence of regions, and strengthening the role of mahallas as a key pillar of the country’s socio-economic development.
One of the most important steps was strengthening the financial foundation of mahallas. In particular, the share of land and property tax revenues allocated to mahalla budgets was increased from 10% to 15%. In addition, mahallas will receive 5% of taxes collected from non-residential properties, 10% of fines imposed for violations of sanitary regulations and illegal construction, as well as the right to sell vacant buildings of up to 5,000 square meters through auctions.
To ensure the long-term and systematic development of mahallas, a proposal was put forward to establish the National Institute for Mahalla Development, integrated with the Academy of Public Administration. The institute will provide annual professional development opportunities for 21,000 employees of the mahalla “sevens” (local community support teams).
Another major achievement of the reforms was the integration of mahallas into the digital environment. In particular, the country launched the “Digital Mahalla” (“Raqamli Mahalla”) information platform, designed to streamline and facilitate interaction between citizens and mahalla administrations. The platform includes services for submitting applications online, processing documents, and tracking the status of service requests.
Significant changes have also taken place in the field of public safety. Thanks to the introduction of the “crime stability” index and targeted crime prevention measures, the situation improved in 701 out of 809 mahallas (86.6%) that had previously faced the most challenging crime-related conditions. Furthermore, 4,400 mahallas were reclassified into the safe “green” category.
Large-scale transformations have also extended to human capital development. On October 3, 2026, a Presidential Decree established the Ministry of Education and Science, tasked with implementing a unified state policy in the fields of preschool, general, and higher education, as well as scientific research and innovation. The ministry is also responsible for defining strategic development priorities across these sectors.
As part of pilot projects, 100 schools introduced advanced instruction in mathematics and natural sciences, including physics, biology, and chemistry, with lessons delivered in English.
Meanwhile, a dual education system based on the “enterprise-university-targeted specialist” model was launched at 75 higher education institutions. Its main objective is to train specialists according to the specific requirements of their future employers. Under this new model, students will spend 30% of their time at university, while the remaining 70% will be dedicated to gaining practical experience directly at the commissioning enterprise. Thus, the system is designed to ensure continuity in education and the targeted training of future young professionals.
Overall, the comprehensive nature of the 2026 reforms is laying the foundation for a sustainable model of socio-economic growth, focused on meeting the needs and expectations of every citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan.