On June 29, 2023, the opening ceremony of the city of Arkadag will take place. The relevant Decree was signed today by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov during an expanded offsite meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held in this city, the Watan information program of the Turkmen television reported.

The document was adopted "in order to organize the opening of the city of Arkadag at a high level, built on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov based on the concept of "smart city" using advanced technologies of the new generation."

The ruling prescribes:

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the hyakimlik of the city of Arkadag, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs jointly ensure the opening ceremony of the city of Arkadag on June 29, 2023 at a high organizational level;
• To provide the relevant ministries and departments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the hyakimlik of the city of Arkadag, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs with all possible assistance in preparing and holding the opening ceremony at a high organizational level;
• To the Ministry of Culture, the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography, the State News Agency to provide high-level media coverage of the opening ceremony and measures taken in Turkmenistan in the field of the smart city concept.

According to the President of the country, the construction of the city of Arkadag was planned to be carried out in two stages.

“Currently, the first phase of its construction has been completed. In the near future, the grand opening ceremony and commissioning of the new city, built on the basis of the smart city concept, will take place. As part of the first stage of development, 336 modern buildings were erected, including two and multi-storey comfortable residential buildings, public, educational, medical and cultural facilities, sports facilities and engineering systems,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov said.

According to him, all the high-quality work carried out in the new city meets international standards. A digital system has been introduced in educational institutions, and a “smart” house system has been introduced in residential buildings, the head of state emphasized. A set of necessary measures has been taken to ensure the environmental cleanliness of the new city. In particular, for its harmonious coexistence with the surrounding nature, a lot of trees and flowers have been planted along the streets and in the adjacent territory, and a road transport infrastructure that meets environmental requirements has been formed.

“In general, the new city of Arkadag has become one of the most perfect cities, with the most favorable conditions for living, working and recreation,” said President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

At the same time, the emphasis was placed on its important political, economic and social significance for our state and people. In this context, the head of state stressed that the work aimed at the prosperity of the mighty Motherland would be continued together with specialists well versed in modern technologies.

The city of Arkadag, which will house approximately 70 000 people, is being built on an area of 950 hectares, 30 kilometers southwest of the Turkmen capital. “Smart” residential buildings controlled via a smartphone, a square with a flagpole, buildings of the hyakimlik and other institutions have been built here.

The construction of this mega-project was started in 2019.

On March 24, 2023, a new Law of Turkmenistan came into force, according to which a special legal status is assigned to the city of Arkadag - a city of state importance.