Uzbekistan introduces visa-free entry for three countries

Beginning June 1, 2025, Uzbekistan will implement a visa-free regime for citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, allowing them to stay in the country for up to 30 days from the date of entry. This move is part of a broader initiative outlined in a presidential decree aimed at significantly boosting tourism in 2025–2026.

The decree, titled “On Measures to Sharply Increase Tourist Flow and Rapidly Expand the Scope of Tourism Services in 2025–2026 in Order to Enhance the Role and Significance of Tourism in the National Economy,” outlines ambitious goals for the tourism sector by the end of 2025, including:

Attracting 15.8 million international tourists across various regions of the country;

Increasing tourism-related export revenues to $4 billion;

Promoting domestic tourism to enable travel for 40 million local tourists;

Launching 378 new tour operators.

As part of the new visa policy, citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Sultanate of Oman will be eligible for visa-free entry, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Gulf countries and expanding its tourism market.

Additional Tourism Initiatives for 2025

Regional Tourism Development Plans: Starting in 2025, regional tourism programs will be developed annually by November 30 for implementation the following year.

International Tourism Week: The third week of November will be officially designated as International Tourism Week each year, beginning in 2025.

Family and Group Travel Days: Also launching in June 2025, the second Saturday and Sunday of every month will be marked as “Family and Group Travel Days” under the Travel Across Uzbekistan! campaign, aimed at encouraging local tourism and community engagement.

These initiatives are part of a strategic vision to make Uzbekistan a more attractive destination for both international and domestic travelers, and to position tourism as a key driver of the national economy.