Arkadag facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arkadag şäheri
Arkadag
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 Arkadag
Location in Turkmenistan
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| Country |  Turkmenistan |
| Province | Ahal Province |
| Named for | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.21 km2 (4.33 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 64,086 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 |
| Area code(s) | (+993) 12 |
Arkadag is a brand new city in southern Turkmenistan. Its name means "protector" in Turkmen. It became the capital city of Ahal Province in December 2022.
Arkadag is a special city. It was built from scratch starting in 2019. It is known as a "smart city" because it uses a lot of modern technology. The city was named after the former President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is officially called Arkadag.
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Where is Arkadag Located?
Arkadag is located on a flat area west of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital city. It is also east of the city of Gökdepe.
In March 2023, the city was divided into two main areas called Kärizek and Gorjaw. Each of these areas has its own mayor.
Kärizek includes a community called Aba Annaýew. This area was built for people who work with horses and for those who support the nearby horse racing track. Aba Annaýew is now considered a town within Arkadag.
How Arkadag Was Built
The idea for Arkadag started in November 2018. The former President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, wanted to build a new capital city for Ahal Province.
Construction officially began on April 10, 2019. The city was planned to cover a large area, about 1002 hectares (which is like 2,476 acres).
On December 20, 2022, the city was officially named Arkadag. The capital of Ahal Province moved from Anau to Arkadag. A nearby village, Aba Annayew, also became part of the new city.
Local news reported that many buildings were planned for the first part of construction. These included:
- 258 apartment buildings (2 to 9 stories tall)
- 19 retail stores
- 3 repair centers
- A hotel
- A shopping mall
- A leisure park
In March 2023, a law was passed that made Arkadag a "city of national importance." This means it's a very important city for the whole country.
The construction of Arkadag was a very expensive project, costing billions of dollars. The second phase of construction is expected to be finished by September 2026.
In November 2023, Arkadag grew even bigger. Its land area expanded by adding land from nearby areas.
What's Coming Next?
The second phase of building Arkadag will add even more facilities. These include:
- Five secondary schools, each for 720 students
- Nine kindergartens for 320 children each
- A health clinic and a fire station
- New administrative buildings for the mayor
- A museum and a public square
- More apartment buildings of different sizes
- A railway station, a bus depot, and a taxi station
In June 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow said the city should also have a station to monitor earthquakes. He also wanted factories to produce food, medicine, and other goods in Arkadag.
City Opening Celebrations
The city of Arkadag officially opened on June 29, 2023. This date was chosen because it was the birthday of the former President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. There were big celebrations, including a military parade and a concert.
City Design and Buildings
Arkadag was designed with a clear plan. All the buildings are covered in white marble and are arranged along straight, symmetrical streets.
Many important places in the city are named after famous people. Some of these include:
- Arkadag Monument
- Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding
- Berdimuhamed Annayev Ahal Velayat Pedagogical Secondary Vocational School
- Sachly Dursunova Ahal Velayat Medical Secondary Vocational School
- Görogly State Equestrian Circus
- Döwletmämmet Azady Ahal Velayat Library
- Aman Gulmammedov State Drama Theater
- Sahy Jepbarov Specialized Art School of Ahal Velayat
- Shukur Bagshy Children's Art School
Most residential buildings have modern elevators. These elevators can also be used to move large items.
Medical Facilities
Arkadag has several important medical centers:
- Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow Health and Rehabilitation Center
- Ahal Region Health Department
- A general hospital with 350 beds
- An oncology (cancer treatment) center with 150 beds
- A center for mothers and children with 150 beds
- An ambulance center
Smart City Features
Arkadag is Turkmenistan's first "smart city." This means it uses advanced technology to make life better for its residents.
For example, the city has smart traffic lights. These lights have special buttons and sounds to help people who can't see or hear well cross the street safely. The traffic lights also change based on how busy the roads are. Cameras watch the traffic and send information to computers, which then control the lights.
The sidewalks in Arkadag have special textured tiles. These are called tactile sidewalk tiles and help visually impaired people navigate. Pedestrian bridges in the city also have elevators or escalators.
Industry in Arkadag
The city plans to have an industrial cluster. This means there will be groups of factories focused on making specific products. These will include medical and pharmaceutical goods, as well as baby food. A German company is helping with advice for building these factories.
Street Names
The former President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, suggested naming Arkadag's streets after important people. These are people who made a big impact on Turkmenistan's culture, art, literature, and history. Some names he suggested include Berdi Kerbabayev, Kerim Gurbannepesow, and Maya Kuliyeva.
City Districts
Arkadag has two main districts, or boroughs: Kärizek etraby and Gorjaw etraby. Each of these districts has its own mayor.
The town of Aba Annayev is part of the Kärizek District.
Transportation in Arkadag
The city is connected to Ashgabat by a main road called Kopetdag Avenue and the M37 highway.
The closest major airport is Ashgabat International Airport. You can take domestic and international flights from there.
Railway Travel
A new railway station will be built in Arkadag. There are plans for a fast electric train service between Arkadag and Ashgabat. This train could travel up to 140 kilometers per hour, making the trip in just 18 minutes. There are also plans for a high-speed railway from Arkadag to Avaza.
Road Transport
Arkadag uses electric public transport, including Chinese Yutong electric buses and Jac J7 cars. Small electric vehicles called Runhorse Jinma are used to deliver groceries around the city.
Bicycle Paths
The city will have 15 kilometers of special paths for bicycles. A large group cycling event was held in April 2023.
Media and Communication
Arkadag has its own television channel, called Arkadag TV, and a newspaper, also called Arkadag.
For phone and internet, the city has 2G, 3G, and LTE networks from the mobile company Altyn Asyr.
Every apartment in Arkadag is connected to a fiber optic network called GPON. This allows people to use high-speed Internet, IPTV (TV over the internet), and telephony (phone services) all at once. This network provides access to many local and international TV channels.
Sports
Arkadag has its own professional football (soccer) team, FC Arkadag. They play in the Ýokary Liga, which is the top football league in Turkmenistan.
The city also has a large stadium called Arkadag Stadium, which can hold 10,000 spectators.
Cities Arkadag is Connected To
Arkadag has special partnerships with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.
