Uklon recognised as a digital platform with a dominant position in the taxi market and must introduce antitrust compliance

The Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection has recognised Uklon UB, a foreign-owned LLC, as a digital platform operator with a dominant position in the market for intermediary (aggregator) services for ordering passenger transport and taxis. For the service, this means additional obligations and prohibitions; for drivers and passengers, additional protection against abuse.

The committee announced the decision on 29 October 2026. Uklon has operated in Uzbekistan since summer 2023. The same status was earlier given to, among others, YandexGo, Yandex Eats and Express24 (in October 2024), as well as Uzum Market and Uzum Tezkor.

When a platform is considered dominant

The network effect is taken into account — when the value of a service grows with the number of its users. In addition, the platform must meet at least one of the following conditions:

• annual revenue above 100,000 basic calculation units (44 billion soums);
• more than 50,000 active end users or more than 3,000 active business users per month.

Regardless of revenue and user numbers, a platform with a market share above 40% is recognised as dominant.

What changes for Uklon

The company must introduce an antitrust compliance system — internal rules that prevent abuse of a dominant position. The committee will monitor its activities.

Dominant platforms are prohibited from actions that restrict competition or discriminate against users. These include:

• preventing business users from dealing with customers outside the platform;
• using the data of competing companies on the platform without permission;
• promoting their own services on more favourable terms than those of other participants;
• unjustifiably reducing service quality;
• restricting the ability to switch to another service.

Violations carry fines for the company and administrative liability for officials.

What this means in practice. Uklon drivers and passengers can now rely on the antitrust authority to oversee the service's terms. If the platform restricts work with other aggregators, imposes discriminatory conditions or unjustifiably degrades its service, a complaint can be filed with the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection. Keep screenshots of the terms and your correspondence.

Photo: Raf24, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)