Uzbekistan adopts Latin alphabet overhaul

The reform is more than a linguistic cleanup. In a country where the Latin alphabet has been politically and culturally tied to post-Soviet identity, the update is meant to standardize writing, reduce ambiguity in text processing and improve compatibility with keyboards, search engines and other digital tools. That matters for government services, education and private-sector systems that rely on consistent character encoding and automated text handling.

Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the presidential administration, framed the change as the end of a “long historical mistake,” saying the alphabet needed fixing to eliminate writing inconveniences and strengthen Uzbek’s place in the digital space. She said the initiative would not trigger a wholesale replacement of official papers, with current documents, the national currency and securities remaining valid.

The government is also trying to limit the economic burden of the reform. Textbooks, signs and notices will be replaced only as existing versions wear out, which should spread costs over time for schools, publishers, local authorities and businesses. That approach reduces near-term spending while still pushing institutions toward the new orthography.

For investors and companies operating in Uzbekistan, the immediate impact is practical rather than financial: software localization, official forms, signage and educational materials may need updates, but the phased rollout lowers disruption. The bigger longer-term effect is on state capacity and digital adoption, as cleaner language standards can improve data quality across e-government, banking and commerce.

The law also carries symbolic weight. Passed on Uzbek Language Day, it underscores the government’s effort to reinforce national identity while modernizing language infrastructure. The next focus will be implementation, as ministries, schools, publishers and tech firms begin adapting to the revised alphabet at their own pace.