Tashkent Aims to Become a City of Night Economy: Experts Believe It Can Rival London and Dubai

The Agency for Strategic Reforms believes Tashkent has the potential to join the ranks of global metropolises like London, New York, and Dubai by developing its night economy. This concept generates billions of dollars for cities that successfully operate nighttime entertainment venues. To ensure Tashkent keeps up with other major cities, officials propose enabling round-the-clock operation of entertainment venues on Fridays and Saturdays, introducing 24/7 public transportation, and implementing other measures. The idea of improving public transport is especially welcome, as waiting for a bus after 9:00 PM currently feels like an impossible task. Read on for more details.

For Comparison:

Last year, revenues from the night economy (funds generated for the city budget through various entertainment venues operating at night) amounted to $44 billion in London, $35 billion in New York, and $29 billion in Dubai.

What Is Proposed for Tashkent?

To make the night economy a significant revenue source, the following steps are being proposed for Uzbekistan’s capital:

Enable 24/7 operations for entertainment venues on Fridays and Saturdays;

Transition public transportation to a round-the-clock schedule;

Create tourist zones with vibrant nightlife;

Launch an online platform, “Night Tashkent,” featuring a map of all nighttime activities, transport routes, and special offers;

Modernize infrastructure, including improvements to street lighting;

Allow galleries, museums, and cinemas to operate 24/7 and extend operating hours for sports facilities, esports arenas, and fitness clubs;

Identify tourist-friendly zones in Tashkent and organize spaces for nighttime activities.

Why Is This Important?

The night economy is not only a source of revenue for the city budget but also creates jobs, promotes tourism, and attracts investment. Establishing such zones in Tashkent could drive urban economic growth and attract international visitors.

Now we can only hope that this initiative doesn’t just remain on paper but instead becomes a catalyst for real changes, transforming Tashkent into a modern metropolis with a vibrant nightlife.