Uzbekistan has completed construction of a new Congress Hall, three-star hotel and Khiva Ichan-Kala Reception House in Khiva, with the facilities expected to expand the city’s capacity to host international events and provide tourism services. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected the new facilities during a visit to Khiva. The projects were implemented in accordance with a presidential decree adopted on April 30, 2026.
The three facilities are expected to create around 2,000 jobs, provide hotel services to approximately 50,000 tourists annually and contribute $4mn in service exports.
The new Congress Hall is intended to host international forums, business conferences, intergovernmental negotiations and cultural events. The complex occupies 1.9 hectares and was constructed with UZS 857bn (over $72.2mn) in budget funding. Its architectural design combines contemporary elements with features associated with traditional Khorezm architecture.
Landscaping and green areas have been developed around the complex, including pedestrian alleys. The landscaping work was carried out as part of Uzbekistan's nationwide Yashil Makon initiative. The new venue is intended to increase Khiva's infrastructure capacity for large international and official events.
A three-star hotel has also been constructed next to the Congress Hall to accommodate tourists and participants attending events in the city. The hotel project cost UZS 169bn (over $14.2mn) and covers an area of 1.6 hectares. It is expected to provide 60 new jobs. The four-story building contains 156 rooms with a combined capacity of 310 beds. Facilities include a lobby and reception area, restaurant-bar, children's room and terrace. The hotel also includes an indoor swimming pool, fitness facilities and other wellness areas.
The property is located within walking distance of the Congress Hall, Bokiy Shahar Historical and Ethnographic Park and the local crafts market, with pedestrian promenades connecting the facilities. Mirziyoyev also inspected the Khiva Ichan-Kala Reception House, a separate complex intended to accommodate foreign delegations and host official events. The Reception House covers approximately two hectares and was developed at a cost of UZS 260bn (around $22mn).
The building incorporates architectural elements associated with Khorezm, including carved wooden columns, ganch decorative elements and blue and turquoise tiles. Photo exhibitions presenting the history of the region and workshops featuring traditional crafts have also been established around the Reception House. Taken together, the reported construction costs of the Congress Hall, hotel and Reception House amount to approximately UZS 1.286 trillion (over $108mn).
During his visit to the Reception House, Mirziyoyev met representatives of the Khorezm regional community. The discussions covered development projects implemented in the region and changes in local infrastructure and living conditions. The government plans to continue developing the region while incorporating measures to preserve Khorezm's historical and cultural heritage.
Following the inspection, Mirziyoyev instructed responsible officials to ensure effective use of the newly constructed facilities. He also called for increasing the number of major international events held in Khiva, improving tourism services and creating additional employment opportunities. The new infrastructure forms part of efforts to expand Khiva's tourism and event-hosting capacity while integrating new development with the city's existing historical and cultural sites.
