Inside Tashkent’s $150M Center for Islamic Civilization: A Monument to Scholarship and Heritage

Four times taller than the Hollywood sign and roughly seven times the size of the White House, Uzbekistan’s new Center for Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Tashkent is a bold cultural statement. The three-story, $150 million complex is scheduled to open to the public in March 2026 and aims to celebrate Uzbekistan’s historical role as a hub of Islamic scholarship while inspiring a new generation.

The project consulted more than 1,500 specialists from over 40 countries during eight years of planning and construction. Organizers describe the CISC as part museum, part research institute: it combines immersive public exhibits with a scholarly research wing.

Interactive exhibits and research facilities

An "interactive educational zone" uses virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to create immersive experiences — including simulated conversations with "living portraits" of historical scholars. The goal is to spark young people's interest in subjects such as astronomy, medicine, literature and the arts.

The second floor will serve as a research hub with a library of more than 200,000 volumes available to visiting scholars and students. The center also plans programming to encourage long-term study and international collaboration.

Architecture and historical context

The building's design draws on Uzbekistan’s Timurid-era heritage, recalling the mosaiced archways and blue-tiled domes of Samarkand. Uzbekistan’s Islamic history dates back to Arab conquests in the 7th century and includes a golden age of science, literature and architecture between the 9th and 12th centuries. Cities such as Bukhara and Samarkand were major Silk Road crossroads that blended ideas from East and West.

“This region has been home to many ancestors who influenced world civilization,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of CISC. “The big question was how to present their influence to the world, to younger generations, in an engaging and modern way.”

Repatriation of cultural heritage

Since Uzbekistan's independence in 1991, efforts have intensified to restore the country’s cultural patrimony. The CISC reports reclaiming roughly 2,000 items through auctions and acquisitions. Exhibits will include rare objects such as a 7th-century Quran traditionally attributed to the era of Uthman and a collection of 114 Quranic manuscripts produced by notable rulers and calligraphers.

Criticism and outstanding questions

Observers applaud the project's ambition but note several concerns. Critics question the building's cost and the transparency of funding. CISC declined to comment on total cost or funding sources. Others highlight broader political issues, including constraints on religious freedoms in the country, which could affect how the center operates and who it serves.

Historian Farhan Ahmad Nizami cautioned: “The building is a platform; what happens on the platform is entirely different.” He stressed that the center’s long-term success depends on sustained research, education and cultural engagement.

A construction fire in September delayed the original launch date, but main construction work has been completed and the opening is planned for March 2026.

Looking ahead

With roughly 60% of Uzbekistan’s population under age 35, CISC’s leaders say the center is aimed at young people. "We have to inspire them and tell the story of our great history through innovation and creativity," Abdukhalikov said. The building’s scale and technology offer significant potential, but its lasting impact will hinge on transparent governance, inclusive programming and sustained scholarly activity.