Urban development in Samarkand: New boundaries and opportunitie

The city of Samarkand in the Samarkand region is expanding, with 170 hectares of land from the Samarkand district and 243 hectares from the Akdarya district added to the city. This expansion was approved by a resolution adopted by the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis at the proposal of the Cabinet of Ministers.

This development aims to enhance the architectural appeal of Samarkand, attract foreign and local investors, and leverage the region’s tourism potential. Key initiatives include the rapid development of modern business, financial, and tourist infrastructure, as well as improvements in service quality and variety. Notably, under a resolution by the President of Uzbekistan, work is underway to establish a directorate for the construction of the modern business center and residential complex "Shirin" in the region from 2023 to 2030.

As part of the expansion, 170 hectares of land from Samarkand district and 243 hectares from Akdarya district are being integrated into the city. The proposal was reviewed and approved by relevant mahalla citizen assemblies, people's deputies, and regional Kengashes. The resolution also includes a cartographic drawing and classification of the updated borders. Additionally, the Government has been tasked with implementing comprehensive measures to alter the territory’s borders and execute the outlined plans systematically.

The planned expansion includes the construction of the modern "Shirin" business center, which will feature:
- 254 multi-storey residential buildings
- 19 business centers
- 50 social facilities
- 89 entertainment and shopping complexes
- A historical town

To support this growth, infrastructure projects include:
- 112 km of internal roads, pedestrian, and bicycle paths
- 6 km of above-ground metro
- 2 large bridges and 7.2 km of tunnels
- 180 km of irrigation pipelines and 14 km of canals with numerous irrigation facilities

According to deputies, these changes will significantly improve living conditions, expand production and service sectors, and further modernize the city’s infrastructure.

For context, other significant territorial changes in Uzbekistan include:
- On March 13, 2024, the Tashkent Regional Council of People's Deputies transferred 19,729.41 hectares from the Tashkent region to the New Tashkent district of Tashkent city.
- On August 22, 158.67 hectares were allocated from Yukorichirchik district for the construction of New Tashkent.
- On October 22, Tashkent Regional Governor Zoir Mirzayev returned 110.4 hectares in Yukorichirchik district to the state reserve and reallocated it to the "Directorate for the Construction of the New Tashkent City" for permanent use.