Construction Licensing in Uzbekistan

Licensed Construction Works

The annex to Law No. ZRU-701 lists licences for design, construction and repair of bridges and tunnels; design, construction and operation of high-risk facilities and hazardous production; and industrial climbing works, issued by the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services. Main gas and oil pipelines have a separate licence from the Inspectorate for Control of the Use of Electricity, Oil Products and Gas. The annex has no general licence for all building work, so check each project. Project-level steps include the architectural planning brief, state expert examination, notice of the start of works, and the commissioning act. Applications run through the "License" system.

Design Licence

Architectural and planning documentation, engineering surveys and design documentation require a licence from the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services (Law No. ZRU-701, annex). Foreign design firms must either hold a local licence (via subsidiary) or engage a licensed Uzbek design subcontractor. International design standards (Eurocodes, ISO) are increasingly accepted alongside Uzbek building norms. Bond Stone advises on how to structure the involvement of foreign design teams.

Technical Supervision

The annex to Law No. ZRU-701 lists no separate technical supervision licence, so owner's engineers and inspection firms should confirm the current requirement for each project. ADB and World Bank projects typically require independent technical supervision as a contractual condition.

Branch Establishment for Foreign Contractors

Foreign EPC contractors typically establish a branch or subsidiary to hold any licence the works need and to employ local and expatriate personnel. The steps are registration, tax registration, opening a bank account, and any licence application. A foreign contractor working through a permanent establishment must register with the tax authority (Tax Code, Art. 130).

ADB / World Bank Procurement Compliance

ADB and World Bank-funded projects in Uzbekistan require procurement compliance with multilateral procurement guidelines — FIDIC contract conditions (Red Book, Yellow Book, Silver Book), consultant guidelines, and environmental and social safeguards. Bond Stone drafts and reviews procurement documentation, works contracts, and consulting agreements for multilateral-funded infrastructure projects.

PPP Construction — Legal Framework

Law No. ZRU-537 of 10 May 2019 on Public-Private Partnership governs these projects. Approvals depend on the project's value and any state support. Concession and BOT/BOOT structures are available. Bond Stone advises on PPP agreement structuring, negotiation, and regulatory approval.