Bibi-Khanym Mosque restoration plan set out on 10 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 15:42 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A conservation and restoration project at Bibi-Khanym Mosque (Bibi-Xonim masjidi) in Samarkand was presented on 10 September 2026. The plan concerns one of Uzbekistan’s major historic monuments and is being developed with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
The project is news for visitors because it sets out a new research-led phase for the complex, rather than announcing a festival or temporary programme. The published plans focus on understanding the structures before conservation decisions are made.
Restoration plans for Bibi-Khanym Mosque were set out on 10 September
The project was included in a presentation on cultural heritage and museum development held on 10 September 2026. A government project description lists documentation and research of the monument, archaeological and engineering surveys, analysis of building materials, structural modelling and the preparation of design solutions.
The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The published outline also includes training for local specialists, while later stages are planned to conserve the main dome and adjacent structures, improve the surrounding area and create a museum exhibition. The project details reported by UzDaily describe these steps as part of continuing conservation and restoration work.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque links a Timurid complex to new conservation research
The monument stands in the centre of historic Samarkand and forms a large complex rather than a single isolated building. Its principal elements include the entrance area, the main mosque and two smaller mosques, according to the national tourism profile.
The same profile gives the construction period as 1399 to 1404 and describes a courtyard surrounded by monumental minarets. These historical features give the current plan a clear focus: the research phase will examine the surviving structures before the main dome and adjoining buildings are conserved. The official construction dates 1399-1404 place the complex within the Timurid period of Samarkand’s history.
Visiting Bibi-Khanym Mosque: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The current conservation plan was presented on 10 September 2026 and concerns the Bibi-Khanym complex in Samarkand.
- The announcement describes planned research and later conservation, including work on the main dome and adjacent structures; it does not announce a new visitor event or a temporary access programme.
- The monument is in central Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and is identified in the project documents as the Bibi-Khanym complex.
- The site is a large architectural complex with an entrance area, a main mosque, two smaller mosques and a courtyard enclosed by monumental minarets.
- Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan, and the national currency is the Uzbekistani so'm.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Bibi-Khanym Mosque
What changed at Bibi-Khanym Mosque on 10 September 2026?
A conservation and restoration project was presented for the complex. It includes research, technical surveys and later work on the main dome and adjacent structures.
Where is Bibi-Khanym Mosque and how do you get there?
The monument is in central Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is identified in official tourism information as a historic architectural complex in the city.
What is the restoration plan for Bibi-Khanym Mosque?
The plan begins with documentation, research, archaeological and engineering surveys, material analysis and structural modelling. Later stages are planned to include conservation, landscaping and a museum exhibition.
