Some cultural projects are conceived as bridges between eras, disciplines and peoples. The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan was created with that ambition. First proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the United Nations in 2017, it has become a landmark institution devoted to preserving and sharing the intellectual and artistic heritage of Uzbekistan and the wider Islamic world.
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During a visit to the Centre while it was under construction, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres praised Uzbekistan’s emphasis on dialogue and enlightenment:
"President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is a great and authoritative leader who consistently promotes the ideas of dialogue, enlightenment and mutual respect from the high rostrum of the UN."
Opened to the public on March 17, 2026, the Centre brings together a museum, research units, a library, archives, restoration laboratories, educational spaces and platforms for international exchange.
Spanning more than ten hectares, the complex draws on Timurid architectural traditions while incorporating contemporary engineering, digital interpretation and multimedia technologies.
"This Centre is a light for the whole world and a symbol of Uzbekistan's historical role as a crossroads of civilizations," said UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani.
At its heart is the Holy Quran Hall, set beneath a 65-meter dome. Among the treasures presented there is the Mushaf of Uthman, one of the most revered manuscripts in the Islamic world and an item inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register, alongside 114 Quran manuscripts connected to the territory of modern Uzbekistan.
After touring the Centre’s exhibition, Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, reflected on the experience:
"Congratulations on creating such a wonderful story. I think I've never seen anything like it before."
International recognition has followed. The Centre has received six international awards and distinctions, including recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest museum of Islamic civilization in the world, the “Best Islamic Heritage Site of the Year” award at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2026, inclusion by Prix Versailles among the world’s most beautiful museums and recognition by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the year’s most anticipated museums.
President Alexander Stubb of Finland, who visited the Centre in November, praised its contemporary approach to presenting centuries of history:
"The centre makes an unforgettable impression. To present three thousand years of history in such a modern format is the highest art."
Its exhibition narrative traces the region’s history from antiquity to the present, from pre-Islamic civilizations to the achievements associated with New Uzbekistan.
Conceived as both museum and scientific-educational complex, the Centre presents more than 2,000 rare artifacts, including items returned to Uzbekistan through cooperation with the OSCE, the Art Loss Register, London’s Metropolitan Police Service and international experts.
At the handover ceremony, Economic Crime Unit Chief Carrie Wood said:
"I would like to note the leadership of the Republic of Uzbekistan, His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for their continued support in the field of protection and preservation of cultural heritage. Today's handover is the result of extensive collaboration with partners both in the UK and around the world."
Its library holds more than 2,500 manuscripts and lithographs, about 40,000 printed publications and more than 350,000 digital materials, supported by archives, restoration laboratories, a printing house, a calligraphy school and next-generation educational spaces.
Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, underscored the scale of the investment:
"The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a wonderful leader. To invest so much effort in nine years – in terms of the time and money that has been spent – is a truly worthy investment on a global scale."
The Centre has also become a venue for major international scientific and cultural events, including the First International Forum “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” held from July 7 to 15, 2026.
The forum brought together approximately 500 representatives from 50 countries, including leaders of international organizations, ministers, grand muftis, museum and library directors, scholars and heads of research centres.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey sent a message to the participants, which was read during the event:
"This meaningful and creative initiative is of great historical importance not only for Uzbekistan, but also for the entire Islamic world and the common future of mankind. Under the wise leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is becoming the leader and standard-bearer of the historic mission."
At the forum, Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim al-Issa described Uzbekistan as “one of the brightest pages in the history of Islamic civilization.”
The forum concluded with a declaration affirming the role of education, science and culture in countering extremism, radicalism and Islamophobia while advancing peace, tolerance and intercultural dialogue.
"We, the participants of the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization, express our deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the historic initiative, thanks to which Uzbekistan has become one of the world's leading centres for the study and popularisation of the heritage of Islamic civilization, as well as an important international platform for peace, enlightenment and intercultural dialogue," the participants of the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization said.