In an article titled “Guardians of Heritage,” published in Britain’s renowned history magazine History Extra, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is described in precisely these terms.
The piece emphasizes that the Center marks the beginning of a new era in education and the preservation of the country’s historical heritage, and that even today it is regarded as one of the grandest cultural projects of New Uzbekistan.
The article places particular emphasis on the efforts underway to repatriate national cultural heritage. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has repeatedly stressed, the true strength of a nation lies in its memory and cultural roots. In this context, it is noted that work has begun to return unique artifacts to the homeland and to enrich museum collections with authentic national heritage.
The Islamic Civilization Center is presented not merely as a museum complex, but as a large-scale educational and cultural megaproject dedicated to understanding the place of Islamic heritage in world history and integrating it into the future.
It is also noted that the idea of building the Center was first proposed in 2017 by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and that it is intended to serve not only the country itself, but also regions beyond Central Asia by shaping a new cultural and educational code.
Special attention is given to the architecture of the complex. The article highlights the symbolic meaning of the 65-meter dome and the four monumental portals representing the unity of the country’s regions. The central space is identified as the Holy Qur’an Hall, which houses the seventh-century Uthman Mushaf included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Register.
The authors describe the exhibition concept of the Center in detail, noting:
“Archaeology, art, and technology are brought together into a single flow through digital projections, light, sound, and interactive solutions.”