Tashkent falls silent in the outer districts: IMRI study reveals where the city’s night economy is active and where it is not

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — After 22:00, two-thirds of entertainment and retail establishments in the capital remain open, but nearly all activity is concentrated in a few central districts. The outskirts of the city effectively shut down. The Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) has, for the first time, conducted a systematic analysis of Tashkent’s night economy using satellite imagery and spatial econometrics, and has outlined concrete measures for its development.

The night economy has long ceased to be synonymous only with bars and nightclubs. In the United Kingdom it generates around 85 billion US dollars annually, while in New York it reaches 35 billion. Global experience shows that cities that learn to manage economic activity after sunset gain an additional source of employment, tourism attractiveness, and tax revenues. The fact that Uzbekistan received 11.7 million foreign tourists in 2025 compared to 8.2 million a year earlier, and that the Uzbekistan–2030 strategy envisions increasing this figure to 20 million, makes this issue not academic but highly practical.

What and how was studied

IMRI specialists analyzed more than 5,600 food service, retail, and entertainment facilities in Tashkent using OpenStreetMap data. From this dataset, around 1,600 establishments with precisely defined operating hours were selected; these formed the basis of the night activity analysis. In parallel, researchers used images from the SDGSAT-1 satellite, launched under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals framework, to measure levels of nighttime illumination across the city and correlate them with business activity.

Overall picture: the city operates, but not fully

The results show that Tashkent’s nightlife exists but is uneven. Of the 1,587 studied facilities, 75% continue operating after 20:00, 65% after 22:00, and only 45% remain open after 23:00. After midnight, the figure drops to 31%. In other words, by 01:00, fewer than one-third of establishments with known schedules remain operational.

Among those operating after 22:00, food services dominate: cafés account for 20.6% of all night-active establishments (212 venues), restaurants 17.3% (178), fast food outlets 14.6% (150), and bars 3% (30). The remainder consists of entertainment, retail, and tourism facilities.

City center as the core, outskirts as “night paralysis zones”

The geographic distribution of night activity is the most concerning finding. The districts of Yakkasaray (131 establishments operating after 22:00) and Mirabad (112) form the core of the capital’s night economy. They are followed by Mirzo-Ulugbek (147), Yunusabad (130), Chilanzar (126), and Shaykhantakhur (99). In Almazar district, 80 establishments remain active, and in Yashnabad 71.

The contrast with peripheral districts is stark. In Uchtepa district only 52 establishments operate after 22:00, in Sergeli 36, in Bektemir 26, and in Yangihayot just 15. Notably, these districts with the lowest night activity also receive the smallest tourist flows: from January to October 2025, Sergeli received 57,400 visitors, Bektemir 43,800, and Yangihayot 15,400. In comparison, Yakkasaray received 704,700 visitors over the same period.

This imbalance reinforces the “dormitory district” effect: residents of outer areas are forced to travel to the center for leisure, increasing pressure on transport infrastructure and personal transportation costs.

Light as an economic factor

One of the key findings concerns the relationship between street lighting and nighttime business activity. Using econometric regression based on SDGSAT-1 satellite data, IMRI researchers found that an increase in illumination by 100 DN units (approximately 2–5 lux) within a 100×100 meter radius increases the probability that a business will operate after 22:00 by 23%. Within a 300×300 meter radius, this effect rises to 54%.

The satellite map of Tashkent’s nighttime illumination shows that lighting infrastructure is concentrated along major highways. Adjacent areas — courtyards, pedestrian zones, and parks — remain in darkness. According to international IESNA and CIE standards, comfortable and safe pedestrian movement requires illumination of 10–15 lux in residential and commercial zones, and 20–30 lux in high-traffic areas.

Transport: the main constraint on night activity

Public transport is identified as one of the key constraints on the night economy. Of the city’s 164 bus routes, 108 (two-thirds) end service at 23:00. Only 56 routes operate until midnight. The metro closes at exactly 00:00. As a result, large parts of the city lose access to public transport during nighttime hours.

Analysis of road traffic accidents by time of day reveals another pattern: the peak occurs around 18:00 and remains high until 22:00. This indicates the need for enhanced traffic safety measures in the evening. International experience shows that introducing night bus routes can reduce traffic accidents and cases of drunk driving by 10–15%.

Examples from London, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Shanghai

IMRI examined four cities with different approaches to managing the night economy. London regulates it through the Licensing Act 2003, giving local authorities control via licensing. In February 2025, the mayor established the Nightlife Taskforce, a platform for dialogue between business, authorities, and urban planners. The UK night economy reached 153.9 billion pounds in 2024. Around 1.3 million people in London work night shifts.

Amsterdam introduced the “night mayor” role in 2012 as an independent structure mediating between businesses, residents, and city authorities. In 2021, the city formally integrated night culture into urban planning and launched the Implementation Agenda for Night Culture 2023–2026. In 2022, around 500 venues supported approximately 5,000 jobs and contributed 1.25 billion euros to the local economy.

Istanbul integrates night economy into tourism, gastronomy, and cultural events. The city accounts for about 30% of Turkey’s GDP and received 18.6 million foreign tourists in 2024.

Shanghai promotes the “Night Shanghai” brand through festivals, night markets, and events. In 2024–2025 it ranked first among Chinese cities in night economy indices. Night transport covers 2,000 km² (31% of the city), and 75% of the city is fully illuminated at night.

IMRI proposals

Based on the analysis, IMRI proposes eight measures. The central one is the introduction of a deputy mayor for night economy development, responsible for coordinating 24-hour streets and evening services.

The city should be divided into three categories by level of night activity, with separate programs for each: expansion programs for existing night hubs and revitalization programs for moderately active districts.

In transport, IMRI recommends pilot night bus routes on weekends connecting central activity zones with Sergeli, Uchtepa, Yangihayot, and Bektemir districts, and extending metro operations to 01:00 on weekends.

Infrastructure measures include full lighting of pedestrian zones and parks in pilot areas, installation of 24-hour sanitation points, resting areas, night navigation systems, and optimized waste collection.

The final recommendation is the creation of a unified public calendar of night events, including festivals, street food markets, open-air cinemas, and family programs.

The Uzbekistan–2030 strategy already envisions 320 24-hour streets and zones by 2030. According to IMRI, achieving this target requires systematic management of the night economy, which Tashkent currently lacks.