Tashkent’s Giant Center for Islamic Civilization: A High‑Tech Museum, Research Hub and Repatriation Project

Four times taller than the Hollywood sign and roughly seven times the footprint of the White House, the three‑storey Center for Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Tashkent is deliberately monumental. Scheduled to open to the public in March 2026, the complex combines museum galleries, an academic research floor and interactive learning spaces intended to revive and celebrate Uzbekistan’s long history as a center of Islamic scholarship.

About the center

Built over eight years with input from about 1,500 specialists across more than 40 countries, CISC aims to present historical scholarship in a contemporary, engaging format. “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.”

Exhibits and technology

One of the center’s focal points is an interactive educational zone that uses virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence. Visitors will encounter features such as conversations with “living portraits” of historical scholars and thinkers — immersive experiences designed to spark curiosity in astronomy, medicine, literature and the arts.

Research facilities and collections

The second floor is dedicated to scholarship: international researchers will be able to consult a library of more than 200,000 books and use on‑site resources for long‑term study. The exhibitions incorporate thousands of artifacts, including approximately 2,000 items reclaimed from international collections through purchases at auctions such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s and other recovery efforts.

Highlights on display will include a 7th‑century Quran attributed to Uthman — considered among the world’s oldest Qurans — and a collection of 114 historic Quranic manuscripts produced by notable rulers and calligraphers across the centuries.

Architecture and historical inspiration

The building’s design draws inspiration from the Timurid renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries: grand mosaic‑covered archways, blue tile domes and elaborate ornamentation echo Samarkand and Bukhara at the height of their cultural influence. The center emphasizes Uzbekistan’s role on the Silk Road, when cities in the region were crossroads for exchange between East and West.

Context and recovery of heritage

Arab conquests introduced Islam to Central Asia in the 7th century, and from the 9th to 12th centuries the region experienced a golden age in science, literature and architecture. Later centuries saw Russian imperial expansion and Soviet rule, during which many cultural and religious treasures left the country and public Islamic practice was curtailed. After independence in 1991, Uzbekistan began a deliberate revival of its Islamic cultural heritage, of which CISC is a prominent example.

Criticism and challenges

The project has drawn criticism over its expense, questions about the sources of funding and concerns about restrictions on religious freedom in the country. CISC declined to comment on the building’s cost or funding sources. A construction fire in September delayed the original opening date, although main construction work has since been completed.

“The building is a platform; what happens on the platform is entirely different,” said historian Farhan Ahmad Nizami, founding director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. He praised the center’s potential but stressed that long‑term success will depend on sustained research, education and cultural programming.

Future outlook

With roughly 60% of Uzbekistan’s population under 35, the center’s leadership emphasizes outreach to younger generations, using technology and storytelling to connect them to the country’s rich past. CISC positions itself not only as a repository of artifacts but as an active cultural and educational platform that seeks to inspire further scholarship and public engagement.

Note: earlier versions of this article misstated the building’s cost.