Yesterday on December 26th Muslim Board of Uzbekistan received Sheykh Salikh Salim Bahvayniy, the managing director of “al-Hidoya” company. The guest was welcomed by Ortikbek Yusupov, the Chairman of Committee on religious affairs under Cabinet Ministers of Uzbekistan and Usmankhan Alimov, Muftiy, Chairman of Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.
In his speech Usmankhan Alimov commented that with partnership of “al-Hidoya” company haj and umrah visits have been continuing successfully. However, it was suggested to improve the quality of services in hotels, transportation, meals, providing additional spaces in Mina and Musdalifa, creating more favorable conditions for the coordinating group of organizers, chefs and medical staff for the next year.
During the talks Ortikbek Yusupov underlined to book new hotels in Madina, to pay attention to organize general dining hall, to allocate separate room for organizers.
In his turn Sheyh Salih Salim Bahvaniy noted that serving to pilgrims was a great honor for him and his company, as a result Sheyh Salih stressed that his company serving pilgrims as for their family. Also, he noted to take into account all the comments and improve them in the coming pilgrimage. Sheyh also expressed his gratitude for the partnership.
At the end of the meeting agreement on “Umra-2018” was signed. According to the document 8500 pilgrims in spring season and 1500 pilgrims in Ramadan season will perform umrah. “Umra-2018” campaign is going to start on February 1st, 2018.
Press Service,
Muslim Board of Uzbekistan



News portal “see.news” and the leading Egyptian newspaper “Al-Ahram” have published articles about the upcoming International Sister Cities Forum in Samarkand and the Imam al-Bukhari Complex near Samarkand, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.
According to the “see.news” portal, International Sister Cities Forum will be held in Samarkand on July 24-25th, 2026, aimed at expanding Uzbekistan's international cooperation, strengthening partnerships between cities, and developing public diplomacy. The forum's program will include an international scientific and practical conference on urban cooperation, panel sessions and roundtables, ceremonies for signing memorandums and agreements between sister cities, presentations on public diplomacy and interregional interaction, cultural and educational events for foreign delegations, study tours of Samarkand's historical monuments, as well as exhibitions showcasing the investment, tourism and cultural potential of Uzbekistan's regions.
“Al-Ahram” correspondent, Muhammad Abdulsalam Sabrin, dedicated a report to the Imam al-Bukhari Complex near Samarkand, having visited it as part of the international scientific conference “The Mosque of the Authentic Musnad of Imam Bukhari: The Book of the Nation”. The author describes the complex as an integrated scientific and spiritual city spanning an area of about 450,000 square meters, featuring a mosque with four 75-meter minarets, an interactive museum consisting of nine pavilions with rare manuscripts and maps of Imam al-Bukhari’s travels, as well as an infrastructure designed to receive delegations from across the Muslim world. According to the journalist, the complex's capacity after reconstruction has increased from 12,000 to nearly 65,000 visitors per day and he described the site not merely as an architectural monument, but as a message of tolerance and the values of coexistence among peoples.