Established in 1970, this journal is considered an influential popular science publication on an international scale in the fields of science, history, culture, and museology. Its inclusion in the journal's ratings is viewed as a mark of high international expert appraisal for projects.
The prestigious rating also includes famous museum projects such as Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Los Angeles), National Geographic Museum of Exploration (Washington, D.C.), London Museum (London), MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives (Tokyo), The Hip Hop Museum (New York), and Kanal–Centre Pompidou (Brussels). This places the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan alongside the world's largest museum initiatives.
According to the publication's information, the opening of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is scheduled for March 2026. As emphasized by Smithsonian Magazine, the three-story museum complex will include extensive exhibition spaces, Renaissance-era halls, as well as a unique collection of 114 manuscript copies of the Holy Quran created in various historical periods. Among them is the 7th-century Uthman Quran — one of the oldest surviving copies of the sacred book in the world.
The journal specifically notes the extensive use of modern digital technologies at the center. In particular, through AI-generated "living portraits," visitors will have the opportunity to engage in virtual dialogues with great Islamic scholar-thinkers.
The Center of Islamic Civilization also houses a research institute specializing in the study of Islamic heritage, laboratories for the restoration of ancient manuscripts, and a 460-seat international conference hall. This defines the center's status as a world-class multifunctional scientific, educational, and cultural space.
Smithsonian Magazine also pays special attention to the complex's architecture. It combines the traditional Central Asian style characteristic of the Timurid era with modern architectural solutions. The 65-meter-high blue dome embodies the grandeur and profound symbolic meaning of the scientific-spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization.
The inclusion of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan in Smithsonian Magazine's list of the world's most anticipated museums is assessed as significant international recognition of the country's contribution to world heritage in scientific, spiritual, and cultural terms, as well as confirmation of Uzbekistan's growing influence in the global cultural space.
