The international competition for the public – private partnership project to build and operate a new international airport in Bukhara has moved into a decisive phase. The request for qualifications stage has been completed, and a shortlist of six global companies is now cleared to submit full proposals for designing, constructing and managing the future air hub.
International interest in Bukhara’s next generation airport
The qualification phase ran from 11 March to 21 May and drew strong interest from the global market. In total, 51 companies from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Albania, Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Japan, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, as well as local Uzbek enterprises, submitted their documents to participate in the project.
Following a three stage assessment process covering technical, legal and financial criteria, the interdepartmental tender commission formed a shortlist of six international companies. These firms have successfully passed the preliminary qualification and are admitted to the second stage of the tender – the request for proposals, where they will present detailed technical concepts, financial models and operational strategies for the new airport.
PPP framework reshaping Uzbekistan’s transport infrastructure
The new Bukhara airport is being developed as a public – private partnership project, implemented by Uzbekistan Airports in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Under this model, the state retains control of the aerodrome infrastructure, while the private partner will be responsible for financing, building, equipping and operating the passenger terminal and related commercial facilities.
This PPP approach is part of a broader national program to attract long term private investment into strategic transport and logistics assets. For investors, it offers a clear contractual framework and an opportunity to participate in the modernization of Uzbekistan’s air transport system, while sharing risks and returns with the public sector.
Scale and technical parameters of the new airport
The project is a true greenfield development. The new airport complex will be built on the Kumsulton site in Bukhara district, with around 370 hectares of land allocated for the airfield, terminal zone and supporting infrastructure. A new runway, approximately 3.3 kilometres long, is planned to accommodate all major types of modern aircraft.
The passenger terminal is designed with a floor area of about 48,500 square metres and a throughput capacity of up to 1,600 passengers per hour, combining international and domestic flows. The plan includes a catering centre, parking areas, cargo facilities and a fuel farm with a storage volume of about 8,000 cubic metres. Together, these elements aim to create a modern, high capacity node that can handle rising traffic and more diverse airline operations.
Ground access is another critical part of the investment. A new highway of roughly 23.8 kilometres will link the airport to the city and regional road network. The route will include overpasses, pedestrian underpasses and bridges to improve safety and traffic flow, and is expected to stimulate commercial development along the corridor in the form of service centres, retail outlets and hospitality facilities.
Regional impact and investment climate
Bukhara already plays an important role in Uzbekistan’s aviation map, with the existing international airport serving more than half a million passengers per year, predominantly on international routes. The new facility is expected to increase annual capacity significantly in the coming years, supporting growth in tourism, business travel and interregional connectivity within Central Asia.
The estimated project value is around 226 million US dollars, marking it as one of the notable transport investments in the region. Its tender structure – combining a competitive international selection, transparent qualification criteria and clear division of responsibilities between state and private partners – sends a signal to global investors that Uzbekistan is serious about building bankable PPP projects in transport and logistics.
At the same time, the project highlights typical challenges of large scale PPPs: complex technical requirements, long concession horizons, and the need to align international investor expectations with national regulatory frameworks. Companies entering the second stage will have to demonstrate not only engineering and operational excellence, but also robust financial structuring and strong risk management capabilities.
Opportunities for construction and built environment industries
For international and regional construction, engineering and logistics firms, the Bukhara airport project opens a wide range of opportunities. Beyond the runway and terminal shell, there is demand for advanced building materials, modular construction solutions, smart systems for energy efficiency and safety, and integrated logistics planning for cargo and passenger flows.
The new access highway and associated service areas also represent sizable work packages in road construction, bridge engineering and commercial real estate development. As the airport becomes a strategic hub, surrounding zones are likely to attract warehouses, light industrial facilities, exhibition spaces and business centres, further expanding the pipeline of projects for companies involved in infrastructure and urban development.
Why this matters for furniture, interiors and design sectors
For international companies in furniture, interior and exterior manufacturing, trade, design and architecture, this project is more than an aviation story – it is a substantial future demand generator. A new international terminal requires extensive fit out: passenger halls, check in areas, security zones, lounges, offices, retail units, food courts, hotels and conference spaces all need high quality furniture, finishes, lighting, signage and bespoke design solutions that meet global standards and local cultural expectations.
The planned development along the airport access road, including service centres and commercial facilities, will similarly call for modern shopfitting, façade systems, landscaping and street furniture. Foreign brands that position themselves early – by partnering with the winning terminal operator, local construction firms or Uzbek retailers – can secure visibility in a high traffic gateway and use Bukhara as a showcase for their products across Central Asia.
More broadly, the Bukhara PPP airport tender illustrates Uzbekistan’s growing openness to international investment in complex infrastructure. For companies in the furniture, construction and interior design ecosystem, it signals a market where high specification commercial and hospitality projects will multiply, offering recurring opportunities to supply, co design and co invest in the country’s evolving built environment.
