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Tourists linger at the stalls as the lights come on, giving the square an air of mystery.
Registan is part of historic Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it’s more than just a city of monuments. People live here; schools, shops, and workshops opened, and old neighborhoods stood side by side with new districts.
UN News visited previously World Cities Day asks: how can civic leaders preserve their cultural heritage while the country continues to develop?
That question is at the heart of the Samarkand “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, which trains specialists in both fields from a campus in the city center.
The university’s rector, Professor Muhsinjon Kholmukhamedov, said UN News that for centuries Samarkand was a crossroads not only for trade, but also for ideas, crafts and culture, flourishing in the eighth and ninth centuries and again in the Timurid era, when the city became a center of science, culture and art.
Samarkand’s historic architectural monuments shine with green and red evening lighting against the dark blue sky.
The first is for UN Tourism
The university started collaborating with the World Tourism Organization, now UN Tourismin 2023 and renewed the partnership this year.
“We are the first partner university of this organization. We have collaborated in several fields,” said the Chancellor.
They translated courses from the organization’s online academy for residents and prepared the opening of the INSTO tourism observatory – the first in Central Asia.
The observatory will track not only the number of visitors, but also the impact of tourism on employment, the urban environment and the daily lives of residents, as similar observatories from Barcelona and Vienna to Gifu in Japan and Nuevo León in Mexico have done.
Undoing past repairs
Preserving cultural heritage is another part of the UN’s duties, through the UNESCO Chair. One challenge, Kholmukhamedov said, is the legacy of restoration work in the 1990s.
“Unfortunately, at that time what was used was gypsum, concrete and reinforcement. We are now conducting research with experts and providing evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of modern composite materials that do not damage the historic structure of the monument,” he said.
Laser scanning allows researchers to create three-dimensional models of buildings and discover dangerous deformations in time. “If there is a critical slope, we will try to support the structure,” said the Chancellor.
He calls Samarkand a living museum, a place where people work, meet friends and eat out next to monuments of global importance – a city that teaches its residents to appreciate history.
Visitors also feel that energy. “Visiting Samarkand always reminds me of its special hospitality and energy. It is inspiring to see this city grow so dynamically and richly in culture,” said PBB. Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Machl tells UN News.
Traditional crafts stalls in Samarkand display carpets, textiles and embroidered clothing.
Why Timur chose Samarkand
Legend has it that Amir Timur chose his capital by hanging meat in several cities to see where it would spoil the longest.
In Samarkand, says the rector, the water stays fresh the longest – thanks to the climate, the Zarafshan River and the nearby mountains.
Legendary or not, Samarkand’s location in a fertile oasis at the crossroads of trade routes shaped its fortunes – and made it a stopover for traders after arduous journeys.
Crossroads once again
Currently, according to the chancellor, a new railway line is expected to connect Uzbekistan with China and Afghanistan, and on to South Asia, while plans for a high-speed motorway will shorten the Samarkand–Tashkent journey to around two and a half hours. Both are scheduled for completion between 2030 and 2032.
The skies are also busier, with direct flights from Samarkand to more than 40 destinations.
Traditional embroidered hats with bright colors and ornate patterns are displayed on market stalls.
Tourism boomed tenfold
According to Kholmukhamedov, around 1.2 million tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2016, compared with nearly 12 million tourists in 2025. He estimates Samarkand alone received around seven million visitors last year; more than 10 million people came in the first nine months of 2026, and the city estimates there will be about 14 million by the end of this year.
Many come for the food – not least Samarkand palov – rice pilaf – cooked and served layered with local sesame oil. Uzbekistan’s palov culture is included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Traditional Uzbek plov with shredded beef, carrots, quail eggs, chili peppers and black sauce on a decorated plate.
Home for the people
Rapid growth raises pressing questions about housing for Samarkand’s own residents – which is natural, as the theme of this year’s World Cities Day is Urban Renewal: Affordable Housing for All.
More than 1,100 apartment buildings have been built in the Samarkand Region over the past eight years. PBB-Habitat is now developing the Samarkand Housing Profile, the first in Uzbekistan, with the central Government.
Our generation’s task is to preserve Samarkand while future-proofing it so that it remains livable for future generations while maintaining its identity, through resilient communities — Katja Schaefer
The city’s master plan for 2040 foresees a massive expansion of housing, but also considers the condition, energy efficiency, affordability and maintenance of existing homes – most of which are individual homes. This profile will recommend ways to make adequate housing more affordable, resilient and sustainable for everyone.
“In Samarkand, cultural heritage is not only in the form of monuments, but also mahallas, traditional environments where people live and where social life takes place.
“The best approach is to improve the quality of existing homes and services rather than replace them: better water, heating and energy efficiency, sensitive renovations that respect the historic urban fabric, and new growth directed to areas outside the historic center,” Katja Schaefer, a UN-Habitat representative who worked on the project with local specialists, told UN News.
“Most importantly, citizens must be involved in decision-making regarding their environment. In this way, heritage and better living conditions support each other,” he said.
“Every era has left its mark,” he added. Much of the Soviet-era housing and infrastructure is now outdated, and since independence, the city has expanded rapidly, sometimes without a plan, limiting the green spaces that make it livable.
Tiled Islamic archway framed by foliage in Samarkand.
Growing ‘green cities’
Ms Schaefer hopes the new master plan and the Green Cities Action Plan will address these challenges together.
In August, Samarkand and Tashkent joined the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Green Cities Network (F.A.O), a group of cities working to create a greener and healthier urban environment.
“What struck me most about Samarkand was how much its greatness came from its meeting place. Its position on the Silk Road made it a crossroads of trade and culture for centuries, and attracted scholars from all over the region.
“Under Ulugh Beg’s rule, the city became one of the world’s leading centers of astronomy, mathematics and science. The spirit of exchange and innovation is still part of the city’s identity,” he said.
“Our generation’s task is to preserve Samarkand while future-proofing it so that it remains livable for future generations while maintaining its identity, through a resilient community,” said Ms. Schaefer.
