Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent, a landmark complex set to become one of the world’s largest hubs dedicated to Islamic history and culture.
Located within the Hazrati Imam Complex, the centre spans 10 hectares. The three-storey building measures 161 metres in length and 118 metres in width, with a dome rising to 65 metres. Covering more than 42,000 square metres, it is expected to be recognised by the Guinness World Records.
The architecture blends traditional and historic design elements. Entrances are positioned on all four sides, while arches are decorated with Quranic verses and hadiths promoting enlightenment, kindness and respect for parents.
The underground level houses a children’s area, a restoration laboratory, storage facilities for museum exhibits and rare manuscripts, as well as a modern cafe. The ground floor features a museum with exhibition halls and a 550-seat conference space. The second floor includes a library, reading rooms, international organisations and research institutions.
A highlight is the Quran hall beneath the dome, where a mapping hologram recreates the starry sky of Tashkent. The space preserves more than 2,000 rare manuscripts and historical sources, including unique works dating from the 12th to 19th centuries, as well as manuscripts from the Safavid, Seljuk and Timurid periods.
The centre has already received international recognition, including France’s Avicenna Prize and a place among the ten most anticipated museums globally by Smithsonian Magazine, alongside recommendations from BBC Travel and Condé Nast Traveler.
Philanthropist Alisher Usmanov also attended the opening ceremony. Mirziyoyev noted that he contributed essential funding, ideas and rare historical artefacts to the project.
The centre’s library covers 3,100 square metres and holds more than 45,000 publications, including over 2,600 rare editions. It is equipped with facilities for people with disabilities, including audio cabins and tools for studying materials in Braille.
The complex is designed to support international research platforms and collaboration with organisations such as ICESCO and TURKSOY.
During the visit, the president reviewed an exhibition of artefacts returned from abroad or donated by patrons, including ancient manuscripts, gold and silver items, ceramics, weapons and jewellery from different eras. He concluded his tour by signing the centre’s honorary guest book.
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