On March 19, 2026, the President of Uzbekistan officially opened the newly expanded Imam al Bukhari Mausoleum. Located about 25 kilometers from the ancient city of Samarkand, this massive project marks a major moment for Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally inspected the completed construction to mark the occasion. The opening is about much more than just expanding the previous complex. It shows the country’s clear goal to become a global center for Islamic scholarship and to honor its 1,500 years of deep Islamic history.

The physical transformation of the site is vast. What started centuries ago as a simple mausoleum is now a modern complex covering 45 hectares. Fourteen beautiful blue domes and four giant minarets, each standing exactly 75 meters tall, give the shrine a majestic look against the sky. At the center sits a stunning white marble mosque built to hold 10,000 worshippers, an administrative building, and a traditional courtyard featuring 154 columns. To handle the expected crowds, builders expanded the grounds heavily.........

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