Published on: 2026-10-30
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Nargis Shekinskaya
October 30, 2026 Culture and Education
The sun slowly sets over the majestic domes of Registan in Samarkand. The last rays glistened, reflecting in every particle of the turquoise mosaic walls. Twilight began to fall on the ancient square, where for millennia the main trade routes of that time intersected…
Tourists were in no hurry to leave the square – the numerous stalls with local traditional goods were still open, and bright lighting replaced the sun, giving the ensemble a special mystique. The UN News Service visited Samarkand on the eve of World Cities Day.
Museum City
Registan is part of historic Samarkand, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. But Samarkand is not only a city of monuments. People live here, schools, shops, and workshops operate, and old neighborhoods coexist with new districts. How can this heritage be preserved while simultaneously allowing the city to develop?
Samarkand International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage “Silk Road” trains specialists in the field of tourism and cultural heritage. The university campus is located in the very center of Samarkand, and the dean’s office is housed in one of the city’s historic buildings.
In an interview with the UN News Service, the university rector, Professor Mukhsindzhon Kholmukhamedov, said that Samarkand had for centuries been a crossroads not only of trade routes but also of ideas, crafts, and cultures. He associates this with two periods of the city’s prosperity: the early Middle Ages, the 8th–9th centuries, and the Timurid era, when Samarkand became a center of science, culture, and art.
Cooperation with the UN
The university’s cooperation with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (“UN Tourism”) began in 2023. In 2026, the partnership was renewed. “We are the first university partner of this organization. We have established cooperation in several sectors,” says the rector.
Thus, the university has gained full access to the “UN Tourism” electronic library. Online academy courses of the organization are now being translated here so that local residents can use them. In addition, the university is preparing to open the INSTO tourism observatory – the first in Central Asia.
The observatory will monitor not only the number of tourists but also the impact of tourism on employment, the urban environment, and the daily lives of residents. Such observatories already operate in various countries. For example, in Europe — in Vienna, Malta, Madeira, Malaga, and Barcelona; in Asia — on the Japanese island of Gifu and in Batanes in the Philippines; in Latin America — in Petén, Guatemala and in the Mexican state of Nuevo León.
UN News Service Registan – part of historic Samarkand, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Preservation of cultural and historical heritage
Another area of cooperation with the UN is the preservation of cultural heritage. The university has a UNESCO department; seminars and conferences are held here jointly with the organization, and they also work with restorers and architects.
According to the rector, one of the problems is the materials used in the restoration of monuments in the 1990s. “Unfortunately, back then gypsum, concrete, and rebar were used. Now we are conducting research together with experts and providing scientifically based recommendations on the use of modern composite materials that do not damage the historical parts of the monuments,” says Kholmukhamedov.
Laser equipment allows creating three-dimensional copies of structures and tracking even minor changes. Researchers conduct fieldwork, and the resulting models help monitor the condition of buildings and promptly notice dangerous deformations. “If there is a critical tilt, we try to support the structure,” says the rector.
Samarkand he calls “a living museum”: people here live ordinary lives – they go to school and work, meet, have lunch in restaurants – and nearby are monuments of global significance. Kholmukhamedov says that life in such a city teaches you to value history and pay closer attention to the past.
UN News Service A traditional craft stall showcasing carpets, textiles, and national clothing.
Fertile oasis
There is a legend associated with ancient Samarkand about why Amir Timur chose it as his capital. According to the tale, the ruler ordered meat carcasses to be hung in several cities to see where they would spoil the slowest. In Samarkand, the rector said, the meat was preserved better. He links this to the climate, the water of the Zarafshan, and the city’s location at the foot of the mountains. It is just a legend, but it reminds us that Samarkand’s position at the crossroads and in a fertile oasis was its advantage for centuries. Apparently, that is why merchants in ancient times chose this very place to stop after a grueling journey.
Modern transport interchange
Centuries later, Samarkand remains a crossroads of transport routes. Another major project is the new Tashkent – Samarkand highway. Construction of the 282-kilometer road began in July 2026. It will pass through the Samarkand region and three other regions; it is planned to be completed by 2030. According to authorities’ calculations, travel time between Tashkent and Samarkand will be reduced from about five hours to two and a half.
In addition, a feasibility study has already been prepared for the separate high-speed railway line Tashkent – Samarkand.
The role of the airport is also growing. The rector says that more than 40 direct flights are operated from Samarkand. According to him, nine private airlines operate in the country. Samarkand airport has become an important part of this transportation network.
Growth in tourist flow
UN News Service Traditional Uzbek headdress – tubeteika.
The growth of air traffic accompanies the increase in the number of tourists. According to the rector of the university, Mukhsinjon Kholmukhamedov, about 1.2 million tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2016, and by 2025 – almost 12 million. Samarkand, according to his estimate, received about seven million domestic and foreign guests last year. In the first nine months of 2026, their number exceeded ten million, and by the end of the year, around 14 million guests are expected.
One of the directions is gastronomic tourism. In Samarkand, you can get acquainted with local traditions at the table and try Samarkand pilaf, which is prepared with locally produced sesame oil and served in layers. The culture and traditions of Uzbek pilaf are included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
UN News Service Culture and traditions of Uzbek pilaf are included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Housing for the people of Samarkand
The rapid growth of the city sharply raises the issue of housing for the residents of Samarkand themselves. The theme of World Cities Day in 2026 is “Renewing cities: affordable housing for all.”
Over the past eight years, more than 1,100 apartment buildings have been constructed in the Samarkand region. The master plan of Samarkand until 2040 envisions a significant expansion of the housing stock.
The first-ever Housing Profile of Samarkand, being developed by UN-Habitat specialists and the government of Uzbekistan, includes not only new construction. It also focuses on the condition and energy efficiency of houses, housing affordability for families, and the maintenance of the existing housing stock. In the region, most families live in individual houses, so improving these is important as well. The project authors provided city authorities with recommendations on how to make existing housing more affordable, as well as sustainable and durable.
© K. Gulordava/UN-Habitat Residential neighborhoods of Samarkand.
“The heritage of Samarkand is not only about monuments. It is also about mahallas, traditional neighborhoods where people live and community life takes shape. It is best to improve homes and services in place, not replace them: to develop water supply, heating, and energy efficiency, to carry out sensitive restoration, and to direct new construction beyond the historic core. And most importantly – to involve residents in decisions about the future of their neighborhoods,” Katya Shefer, a UN-Habitat representative working on the project with local specialists, told the UN News Service.
According to her, the Soviet period also shaped the layout and appearance of Samarkand, but a significant part of the housing and infrastructure from that time has become outdated. After gaining independence, the city grew rapidly, sometimes chaotically, and the green spaces that make it comfortable to live in came under pressure.
“Green City”
Shefer hopes that the new master plan and the “Green City” Action Plan will help to consider these tasks together. Support for green spaces is another part of the urban agenda. In August 2026, Samarkand and Tashkent officially became members of the Green Cities Network of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The network brings together cities that are developing a greener, healthier, and more sustainable urban environment.
UN News Service The position of Samarkand at the crossroads and in a fertile oasis has been its main advantage for centuries.
A place where people and cultures meet
“What struck me most was how the greatness of Samarkand is connected to it being a meeting place for different people and cultures,” Katya Shefer shared with the UN News Service. “For centuries, its position on the Silk Road turned the city into a crossroads of trade and cultures, attracting scholars from across the region. Under Ulugh Beg, Samarkand became one of the leading world centers for astronomy, mathematics, and science. This spirit of exchange and innovation remains a part of the city’s identity even today.”
“Our task is to preserve Samarkand and prepare it for the future, so that it remains comfortable for the lives of future generations, maintaining its identity and relying on sustainable communities,” Shefer emphasized.
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