Amid rapid construction and infrastructure development, Uzbekistan plans to introduce a fundamentally new Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) system to protect its unique historical cities — Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Shahrisabz — as well as Tashkent's modernist architecture. This was announced on July 10 at a presentation chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The system will allow preliminary assessment of the impact of any construction or infrastructure project on cultural heritage sites.
Proposals include creating a unified digital platform for cultural heritage, forming digital twins of objects, and launching the Heritage Open Data system — open data on cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Situation Center will monitor using IoT sensors, satellite data, video analysis, and artificial intelligence tools. It is planned that by 2030 all cultural heritage sites will be digitized.
To manage tourist loads, a Visitor Management system is to be introduced, digital tickets expanded, tourist flows forecast, and, if necessary, restrictions on the number of visitors to certain sites imposed. In the field of personnel, plans include creating a specialist training system, opening a specialized higher restoration school in Bukhara, developing regional branches of the Institute of Archaeology, and introducing a licensing system for restorers.
Gayane Umerova, Chair of the Uzbekistan Fund for the Development of Culture and Arts and Head of the National Commission for UNESCO, announced important initiatives for the sector. A specialized mosaic center is also proposed, where traditional methods will be combined with modern design, production, and restoration technologies. The center will serve as a platform for preserving the Tashkent mosaic school, training specialists, and developing a new direction of monumental art.
A state program for the preservation and promotion of Tashkent modernist architecture for 2026–2030 is planned. It was noted that the recent inclusion of 10 monuments of 20th-century modernist architecture in the capital in the UNESCO World Heritage List creates additional opportunities for preserving and studying the city's architectural heritage, developing cultural tourism, and attracting researchers and architects. A proposal was also made to adopt a Cultural Heritage Development Strategy for 2027–2035, which envisages digitalization of cultural heritage, preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, repatriation of cultural valuables, protection of natural heritage, and development of the restoration sector.
To systematically search for, legally protect, and return to the homeland unique historical monuments, archaeological artifacts, rare manuscripts, and works of art taken from the country during various historical periods, a decision was made to establish a Commission for the Repatriation of Cultural Valuables under the President. It was announced that nomination documents are being prepared to include the natural site "Zaamin Mountains" in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The area covers the Zaamin State Reserve and Zaamin National Nature Park, which form a single mountain natural complex with valuable juniper forests and unique species of animals and birds.
Issues of improving the activities of the Secretariat of the National Commission for UNESCO were considered. It is proposed to expand the Secretariat's powers to coordinate the country's participation in UNESCO networks: the Creative Cities Network, the Learning Cities Network, the Associated Schools Network, UNESCO Chairs, associations and clubs, as well as the Global Geoparks Network. A project to create the "Allakulikhan Caravanserai" shopping center on the territory of the Ichan-Kala Museum-Reserve in Khiva was also reviewed. It was noted that the disorderly placement of retail outlets damages the visual integrity of historical sites and causes inconvenience to tourists. The new project aims to preserve the traditional trading environment, create conditions for artisans, hold exhibitions and fairs, and form a new tourist point.
To ensure a unified approach in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, the "Hunarmand" Republican Association will cooperate with the Cultural Heritage Agency of Uzbekistan. A project for the conservation and restoration of the Bibi-Khanym complex in Samarkand was discussed. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. It envisages the introduction of international standards for architectural conservation, scientific study, and management of restoration work at cultural heritage sites. Within the project, documentation and study of the monument, archaeological and engineering surveys, material analysis, structural modeling, and development of design solutions are planned. Special attention will be paid to training local specialists. In the next stages, conservation of the main dome and adjacent structures, improvement of the territory, and organization of a museum exposition will be carried out.
According to the presented data, in recent years 466.4 billion soums have been allocated from the state budget for the restoration of cultural heritage sites. 305 project-estimate documents have been prepared, work has been completed at 55 sites, and work continues at another 152 sites. Cadastral documents have been formed for 8,183 cultural heritage sites. Through short-term lease of monuments, 4,187 business entities have been attracted, and 27.9 billion soums have been directed to the sectoral fund. In 2025, 152.9 billion soums of local and foreign investment were attracted to 52 sites.
Source: www.gazeta.uz