UTM Centre for Real Estate Studies (CRES) has marked the beginning of a promising new chapter in international collaboration through its recent engagement in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. More than just a formal visit, this initiative signifies a renewed commitment toward global knowledge-sharing, cross-border partnerships, and the exploration of real estate, urban development, and community-based innovations in one of Central Asia’s most dynamic cities. For the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) community, this journey serves as both an outward step into an emerging international landscape and an inward reminder of the importance of understanding cities through culture, people, and shared aspirations.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital and largest city, is a place where memory and momentum coexist in striking balance. The urban fabric reveals this unique duality. On one hand, Soviet-era planning principles remain evident in the city’s wide boulevards, monumental public squares, and orderly residential neighbourhoods. On the other hand, Tashkent is redefining itself with a modern skyline of commercial towers, upgraded transport systems, new residential complexes, and vibrant recreational spaces. Walking through the city, one feels the quiet confidence of a nation embracing modernisation while staying anchored in its historical identity. For UTM CRES, this provides a powerful context for studying how cities negotiate continuity and change as they evolve into globally competitive urban centres.

Real Estate Dynamics in Tashkent

Tashkent’s real estate landscape is undergoing a period of steady transformation, shaped by Uzbekistan’s broader economic liberalisation and Vision 2030 development agenda. Residential developments are expanding in response to increasing demand from a growing middle class, while commercial and industrial real estate reflect the government’s desire to attract foreign investment and diversify economic activities. These developments are not merely about physical construction—they reflect shifts in aspiration, lifestyle, and economic potential.

This trajectory showcases striking parallels with Malaysia’s own urban development experience. The challenge of maintaining housing affordability amidst rapid urbanisation, the need for transparent market information, and the pressure to integrate sustainability into real estate decisions are issues familiar to both countries. This context positions UTM CRES to play a meaningful role in the Uzbek real estate ecosystem. With its expertise in valuation standards, property technology (PropTech), sustainable housing research, and policy advisory, UTM can contribute significantly to the formulation of models that prioritise affordability, resilience, and equitable access to housing.

Community Development Observations

One of the most significant insights from Tashkent is its deep sense of community identity. Beyond buildings and infrastructure, the city is a canvas of social interactions, cultural expressions, and generational continuity. Iconic bazaars such as Chorsu are not merely economic nodes; they are social institutions that preserve traditions, livelihoods, and shared memories. The blend of craftsmanship, storytelling, and commercial exchange in these markets serves as a reminder that community spaces are often the soul of urban life.

This understanding is particularly relevant for UTM readers, who recognise that real estate and urban planning must always prioritise the people who inhabit the spaces we design. Community development is not merely an academic concept—it is a lived experience. Cities thrive when they protect relationships, support social cohesion, and honour cultural heritage. This is where Malaysia and Uzbekistan share common ground: both value community resilience, family networks, and the preservation of cultural identity even as they pursue ambitious development agendas.

An exciting area of potential collaboration between UTM and Uzbek universities is heritage-led regeneration. Many cities face the challenge of upgrading old districts without displacing long-standing communities. Tashkent’s experience in revitalising historic neighbourhoods while preserving cultural elements offers valuable lessons. UTM CRES can contribute through comparative research, policy frameworks, and co-developed urban regeneration models that safeguard heritage while enabling economic renewal. Such collaborations not only enrich academic discourse but also shape more compassionate and inclusive development practices.

The discussions held in Tashkent opened multiple pathways for sustained collaboration. These include joint research projects, academic exchanges, policy advisory roles, student mobility programmes, and shared innovation platforms focusing on sustainable urban futures. For UTM students and researchers, these avenues represent opportunities to broaden global exposure, engage in comparative studies, and develop solutions that address real-world urban challenges across diverse cultural contexts. In essence, this partnership moves beyond paperwork—it is rooted in shared purpose, mutual respect, and a collective commitment to shaping better cities.

For UTM CRES, the engagement in Uzbekistan also reinforces the university’s role as a global contributor to knowledge, not merely a recipient. It invites researchers and scholars to adopt a more international perspective in their work, to explore how Malaysian expertise can add value abroad, and to bring home insights that enrich local practices. This is particularly meaningful in a world where urban challenges are increasingly interconnected, including affordability, resilience, sustainability, and community well-being, which are universal concerns that require international dialogue and collaborative solutions.

As we reflect on this journey, the teachings of the Qur’an offer profound guidance:

“For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺…” (Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:11)

This verse reminds us that meaningful transformation, whether in cities, institutions, or communities, begins within. Sustainable change requires proactive intention, shared responsibility, and continuous learning. It is a spiritual and intellectual process, not merely a technical one. The new journey of UTM CRES into Tashkent, therefore, is not just about internationalisation; it is about expanding the horizons of empathy, knowledge, and purpose. It invites the UTM community to be forward-looking yet grounded, innovative yet people-centred, and ambitious yet humble. It challenges us to build real estate systems and urban environments that allow people to thrive, protect cultural heritage, and inspire future generations.

In many ways, Tashkent has reminded us of a simple truth: cities are not defined by their buildings, but by their people. And when knowledge is shared with sincerity, collaboration becomes a bridge that is not just between countries but between hearts, minds, and futures., and a collective spirit of responsibility.