By Firdavs Abdukhalikov
Exactly one year ago, on 29 January 2025, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. During his visit, he set out a series of recommendations and directives concerning the incorporation of scientific and innovative projects, developed by more than two thousand domestic and international researchers, into the exhibitions of the Center. It was, by any measure, a historic visit. Over the past year, construction of the Center has been fully completed. Specialists and designers from more than 40 countries have been involved in enhancing its activities and enriching its exhibitions.
All were united around a megaproject initiated and guided by the President’s vision. In September 2025, the head of state, speaking from the podium of the United Nations, announced the completion of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and its imminent opening. Since then, the internal content of its exhibitions has become more comprehensive still. The Center has evolved into a distinctive space that commands the attention of the global community. Today, visitors from around the world, alongside leaders of states and international organizations, engage with its work and its scientific projects dedicated to civilizations, prominent figures and discoveries, openly acknowledging its significance.
The world is experiencing a period of profound civilizational transformation. Technological advancement often outpaces moral reflection, while global crises — from geopolitical conflicts to the erosion of cultural identity — increasingly raise questions about humanity’s capacity for dialogue. At a moment when religion is sometimes instrumentalized for conflict and culture becomes a line of division, the need for platforms capable of restoring the constructive essence of inter-civilizational dialogue is especially urgent. It is precisely at this historical juncture, in the heart of Eurasia — on land where great civilizations and empires once rose, and where trade routes, religions, scientific schools and cultures have intersected for millennia — that the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan has been established.
Its creation is neither incidental nor driven by transient considerations; it is a direct reflection of the strategic vision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. As early as 2017, speaking from the United Nations podium, the President addressed the global community with a call to restore the true place of Islamic civilization in world history. He emphasized that the foundations of Islam lie in enlightenment, science and humanistic values, and that extremism and ignorance can be countered through knowledge and culture. These words reflect an understanding that has already taken hold within the international community: under Mirziyoyev’s leadership, Uzbekistan has become an active participant in shaping contemporary history.
A unique civilizational complex has emerged, bringing together a next-generation museum, advanced research infrastructure, a modern library, national and international archives on the history of Central Asian civilizations, digital humanities technologies, and a broad network of global scientific and cultural cooperation. The project has also received high praise from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev:
“This is a large-scale and unique facility. It is a scientific, tourist and ethnocultural project. I agree with the President of Uzbekistan: the Center of Islamic Civilization can become a shared platform for research in this important field.”
According to global experts, the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is not merely an infrastructure project or a symbol of cultural policy. It represents a deliberate civilizational response by the country’s leadership to contemporary global challenges. For the first time in the history of the Islamic world, such a large-scale, permanent platform for genuine inter-civilizational dialogue has been created. Uzbekistan has assumed a historic and spiritual mission — not through declarations, but by establishing a tangible, world-class intellectual space to counter distorted interpretations of Islam and its civilization.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, underscored this point, stating:
“Visiting the Center of Islamic Civilization, established at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, we were once again convinced of the leadership’s deep commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and spiritual values of the Uzbek people. In the context of rising Islamophobia, the opening of the Center carries special significance. It vividly demonstrates that Islam is a religion of creation, humanism, tolerance, friendship and brotherhood.” Experts and policymakers alike note that the project has become a humanitarian shield against radicalism and distorted perceptions of Islam — a shield built on knowledge.
The Center represents a new type of civilizational institution for the 21st century, where historical knowledge is fused with digital technologies, manuscripts are transformed into global digital resources, the museum acquires the characteristics of a scientific laboratory, and national heritage becomes the foundation for international dialogue and mutual understanding. In conclusion, it is fitting to cite the words of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić:
“I have never seen a center like this anywhere. It is built in a modern and highly expressive architectural style. I have learned a great deal here and will certainly return. I would tell my fellow citizens: dear friends, I made a big mistake by not coming here earlier. Please visit Uzbekistan as soon as possible.”
(The writer is an Uzbek scholar and philanthropist. He is the head of the Center of Islamic Civilization and Chairman of the Board of the WOSCU. He can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
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