Turkish-Qatari consortium to build airport in Bukhara

TASHKENT. Nov 13 (Interfax) - A consortium including Turkey's Limak Insaat and Qatar's Hamad Bin Khalid Contracting Company (HBK Contracting) has won a tender to build and operate New Bukhara International Airport in Uzbekistan, according to a statement from Uzbekistan Airports, which manages the country's airports.

"The project will be implemented under a public-private partnership on the build-transfer-operate model. The next stage will be the signing of a 23-year PPP agreement, including a construction period of up to three years," the statement says.

The private partner is to build and operate a new passenger terminal with a capacity of 1,200 passengers per hour. Its responsibilities will also include the forecourt, parking, and related infrastructure. The state is responsible for the construction and management of the airfield complex, including the runway and apron.

According to Uzbekistan Airports, the companies in the winning consortium have considerable experience in building and managing airports and major infrastructure facilities in various countries around the world. Limak manages the international airports of Pristina (Kosovo) and Dakar (Senegal), took part in the construction and management of Istanbul Airport, and is building the new terminal of Kuwait International Airport following Cairo International Airport. HBK Contracting was the main contractor for Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar.

As reported, the competitive stage of the qualification request for the project to build and manage New Bukhara International Airport under a PPP completed in June 2026. Fifty-one companies showed interest. Six companies were admitted to the second stage of the tender (the request for proposals).

The cost of building the new airport in Bukhara is estimated at $300 million. According to the plans, the new airport, for which 370 hectares have been allocated, will serve up to 1,200 passengers per hour (3 million per year). The number of aircraft stands will also increase - there are currently seven and the new airport will have 20. A 3.3 km runway capable of handling all types of aircraft will be built.

The existing airport in Bukhara was built in Soviet times.