Turkmenistan makes a breakthrough in urbanization with the launch of innovative projects

Turkmenistan, a country with a rich historical heritage, is on the threshold of an urban revolution that promises to change not only the appearance of cities, but also the very essence of life for its citizens.

Imagine cities where ancient traditions of hospitality neighbor with advanced technologies, where green oases grow in the middle of sand dunes, and "smart" management systems are harmoniously woven into everyday life. This is not a scene from a fantasy novel, but a reality that is gradually coming true on the Turkmen land.

Our article delves into the depths of these transformations, revealing a multifaceted picture of ambitious projects and everyday changes. From the white-marble avenues of Ashgabat to the newborn city of Arkadag and the resort area of Avaza on the Caspian coast, we trace how Turkmenistan's urban landscape is changing.

But behind the facade of architectural innovations and technological marvels lie deeper processes.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rapidly changing face of modern Turkmenistan - a country that is not just building new cities, but creating a new reality for its citizens. Through the prism of urban transformations we will see how a new identity of the nation, which occupies a worthy place in the global community of the 21st century, is being formed.

New contours of Turkmenistan's development

Turkmenistan has entered an era of dynamic administrative-territorial transformations, reflecting the state's desire to improve governance and accelerate regional development. These changes cover the entire vertical administrative division of the country, from provinces to individual villages, opening new opportunities for citizens and increasing the efficiency of the state apparatus.

The Law on the Procedure for Resolving Issues of Administrative-Territorial Division of Turkmenistan, adopted on April 18, 2009, serves as the basis for these transformations. This progressive document establishes clear procedures for the creation, reorganization and renaming of administrative units, ensuring flexibility and adaptability of the management system.

The new stage of development of the administrative structure of the country was initiated in October 2022. At the meeting of the Halk Maslahaty chaired by the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, plans to modernize the structure of the velayats aimed at improving the efficiency of governance and the quality of life of citizens were presented.

According to these perspective plans, the administrative structure is supposed to be optimized, including the reorganization of etraps, cities, towns, villages and gengeshliks. These changes are intended to create a more compact and efficient system of administration that meets the modern challenges and needs of the country's development.

As a result of these progressive transformations, the general structure of administrative-territorial division of Turkmenistan will acquire a more rational and balanced form, including 37 etraps, 6 cities with etrap rights, 5 urban etraps, 42 cities in etraps, 68 settlements, 469 gengeshliks and 1690 villages.

It is important to emphasize that these changes are aimed at creating a more efficient system of management and resource allocation. It is expected that the new structure will allow for more accurate and up-to-date monitoring of the use of State Budget funds, which will ultimately lead to improved living standards for citizens.

It is worth noting that Turkmenistan demonstrates a flexible approach to improving the territorial administration system. Previous successful reforms carried out in 2018 laid the foundation for the current transformations, showing that the country is constantly adapting to new realities and challenges of the time.

Ashgabat: the pearl of the desert in the bloom of transformation

Ashgabat, the white marble capital of Turkmenistan, is going through a period of unprecedented development and modernization, turning into a real oasis of progress in the middle of the Karakum desert. This city, whose history dates back more than 140 years, today appears before the world as an embodiment of the country's ambitious aspirations and a symbol of its rapid development.

The statistics are impressive: Ashgabat's population has grown from 524,000 in 2000 to more than 1 million in 2023, showing an increase of about 90% in more than 20 years. This demographic boom has been accompanied by large-scale construction of new neighborhoods, major public and residential construction projects, and a significant expansion of the city's infrastructure.

Ashgabat is rightfully proud of its status as the most white marble city in the world, which is confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records certificate received on May 25, 2013. This date is now celebrated annually as Capital Day, emphasizing the special role of Ashgabat in the life of the country.

The city is actively developing as the largest administrative-political, transport, trade and scientific-cultural center of Turkmenistan. The headquarters of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is located here, which strengthens Ashgabat's status as an important international diplomatic center.

Particular attention is paid to the development of social infrastructure: the city continues large-scale construction of schools, pre-school institutions, comfortable housing, sports and other social facilities. An important aspect of Ashgabat's development is its landscaping and beautification, which creates a comfortable urban environment for residents and guests of the capital.

The city's transportation system is represented by road, rail and air transport, including an international airport. Ashgabat is also the largest communication hub of Turkmenistan with a developed network of TV and radio communications, digital satellite communications.

In economic terms, Ashgabat holds a leading position in the total volume of trade turnover of the country, which emphasizes its importance as the economic center of Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat appears before us as a dynamically developing megacity combining rich historical heritage and modern urban solutions. This city not only embodies the ambitions and achievements of Turkmenistan, but is also becoming an important regional center that plays a significant role in the development of the whole of Central Asia.

Arkadag: a digital oasis of the future in the heart of Turkmenistan

In the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains, just 30 kilometers away from Ashgabat, the amazing city of Arkadag has grown - the embodiment of the dream of a technological and environmentally friendly future of Turkmenistan. The name of the city, which is also the title of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, meaning "patron", reflects its ambitious mission to become a model of modern urban development and quality of life.

The idea for Arkadag was born in 2018, and in just five years, the city went from concept to reality. On June 29, 2023, the grand opening of the first phase of the city, which includes 336 buildings, took place. Among them are residential buildings, administrative facilities, a library with museums and hotels.

The architectural appearance of Arkadag is amazing: from a bird's eye view, the city resembles a traditional Turkmen carpet spread over an area of more than 1,000 hectares. The central avenue is named after the legendary horse Akhan, who also has an impressive 31-meter-high monument in the main square.

But the true uniqueness of Arkadag lies in its technological content. This is the first city in Central Asia where all life support systems are initially under the control of electronic systems. Each building is equipped with "smart home" technology, which allows efficient management of resources and improves the comfort of residents.

Innovation permeates the entire urban infrastructure. Traffic lights automatically regulate traffic, optimizing traffic flow. A modern GPON network for 20 thousand subscribers has been created for residents, providing high-speed Internet access and IP-TV.

Environmental friendliness is another distinctive feature of Arkadag. The city actively uses renewable energy sources: solar panels and wind turbines provide a significant part of energy consumption. All public and administrative transportation runs on electricity, which significantly reduces the city's carbon footprint.

Special attention was paid to creating a barrier-free environment. Tactile paths have been installed for people with disabilities to facilitate navigation and improve safety of movement.

Arkadag is designed to meet the needs of the future 70 thousand residents. Everything for a comfortable life is provided here: from modern medical facilities, including the children's rehabilitation center "Malyutka", to spacious parks and recreation areas. The city is also intended to become a center of spiritual life: a majestic mosque has been erected here, capable of accommodating 5500 believers.

Arkadag is not just a city, it is a glimpse into the future of Turkmenistan. It demonstrates the country's commitment to innovation, sustainable development and improving the quality of life of its citizens. This unique project has already attracted the attention of the international community and can become a model for the development of other cities not only in Turkmenistan, but also abroad.

Avaza National Tourism Zone: the locomotive of Turkmenistan's tourism potential

Turkmenistan is actively developing its tourism infrastructure in an effort to create attractive conditions for vacationers and bring the hospitality industry to a new level. A key project in this area is the Avaza national tourist zone on the Caspian Sea coast.

In just 15 years, Avaza has transformed from a modest beach town into a modern resort of international class. Since being granted the status of a national tourist zone in 2007, there have been dramatic changes here. More than 30 hotels and other accommodation facilities have been built, parks and recreation areas have been created. The development of the resort was accompanied by large-scale infrastructure construction: new roads were laid, a gas power plant was erected, a desalination plant on the Caspian Sea was put into operation, treatment facilities and water supply networks were built. Special attention was paid to the transport accessibility of the resort - the airport in the neighboring city of Turkmenbashi was completely reconstructed.

Avaza is not only developing as a tourist center, but is also positioned as a potential location for the headquarters of corporations interested in establishing economic bases on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. This opens up new prospects for the development of business tourism in the region.

Within the framework of the Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan project, special attention is paid to the introduction of environmentally friendly practices in the tourism sector of Avaza. It is planned that resort hotels will actively apply measures to reduce energy consumption, save water and reduce waste. The ambitious goal is to reduce energy and water consumption by 10% by each tourist through energy audits and implementation of appropriate saving measures.

Special attention is paid to the use of renewable energy sources. In Avaza, it is planned to widely introduce solar panels for street lighting, which will significantly reduce electricity consumption.

An important aspect of tourism infrastructure development is staff development. The project envisages strengthening the managerial and technical capacity of planners, officials and business managers in Avaza through training programs. This will enable the application of sustainability principles and new methods in the planning and implementation of tourism activities.

The development of tourist infrastructure is not limited only to Avaza. Turkmenistan seeks to create a comprehensive system of tourist facilities throughout the country. For example, the city of Arkadag, although it is not a resort area, also has potential for tourism development due to its unique "smart city" concept and modern architecture.

It is worth noting that Turkmenistan's efforts to develop tourism infrastructure are gaining international recognition. On May 1, 2020, the capital of the country, Ashgabat, joined the membership of the World Federation of Tourism Cities (WFTC). This opens up new opportunities for popularizing the country's tourist destinations and developing the tourist image of Turkmenistan's cities in the international arena.

Analyzing the large-scale transformations taking place in Turkmenistan, we are witnessing the birth of a new image of the country - modern, technological and future-oriented. From administrative reforms to the creation of innovative cities, from the development of tourism infrastructure to the introduction of "green" technologies - every aspect of these changes is aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens and strengthening the position of Turkmenistan in the international arena.

Ashgabat, transforming into a dynamic metropolis, and the newborn Arkadag, embodying the concept of a "smart city", demonstrate the ambition and foresight of the country's urban planning policy. The development of the Avaza resort zone opens new prospects for the tourism industry, attracting the attention of the international community to the unique opportunities for recreation in Turkmenistan.

It is important to note that all these transformations are carried out taking into account the national specifics, harmoniously combining innovations with the rich traditions of the Turkmen people. This creates a unique symbiosis that makes the development of Turkmenistan not only effective but also authentic.

We can confidently say that we are witnessing the formation of a new Turkmenistan - a country confidently looking into the future, ready for the challenges of the global world and striving to provide its citizens with a high quality of life in harmony with nature and technological progress. These ambitious projects and initiatives lay the foundation for sustainable development of the country for decades to come, opening a new chapter in the history of Turkmenistan and the entire Central Asian region.