Leading international architectural practice Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) will participate in the International Conference and Exhibition CIET 2026, taking place in Ashgabat on 3–5 November 2026. The forum will be held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and will bring together representatives of government institutions, international companies, investors, financial institutions, architectural and engineering organisations, manufacturers and technology providers.
Manuela Gatto, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, will contribute to the professional programme of CIET 2026. She will bring international expertise in contemporary architecture, sustainable design, urban development and the delivery of complex infrastructure projects.
ZHA’s participation will bring an international architectural and urban planning perspective to discussions on the development of Turkmenistan’s construction, industrial, chemical and energy sectors. Particular attention will be given to how contemporary design approaches, innovative technologies, engineering expertise and investment can support the delivery of major infrastructure and urban development projects.
The CIET 2026 programme brings together architecture and construction with infrastructure modernisation, industrial development, energy, digitalisation, investment and the adoption of new technologies. This integrated approach reflects the growing interconnection between architectural solutions, engineering, infrastructure efficiency and the long-term sustainable development of cities.
For Zaha Hadid Architects, participation in CIET 2026 will continue the practice’s professional engagement with Turkmenistan. In May 2026, a ZHA delegation led by Manuela Gatto visited Ashgabat and participated in the 25th International Exhibition and Conference “White City Ashgabat – 2026”. During the visit, representatives of the practice held meetings with government institutions, construction companies and specialist educational institutions. Discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in contemporary architecture, sustainable urban development, innovative design solutions and the exchange of professional expertise.
Zaha Hadid Architects delivers major architectural, infrastructure and urban development projects around the world. Among its best-known projects are Beijing Daxing International Airport in China and the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh.
Beijing Daxing International Airport is one of the world’s largest modern transport complexes, where architectural design has been integrated with transport infrastructure, energy-efficient systems and advanced technologies for managing passenger flows. The KAPSARC complex in Saudi Arabia has also received international recognition for its sustainable design and environmental performance.
This experience is closely aligned with the themes of CIET 2026, as Turkmenistan continues to modernise its infrastructure, develop its industrial potential and enhance the urban environment through the application of contemporary engineering, architectural and technological solutions.
The forum will provide an international platform for exchanging expertise, discussing prospective projects and developing new partnerships between Turkmenistan’s government institutions, international companies, investors, architects, engineers and technology providers.
CIET 2026 will be held under the theme “Innovation • Investment • Growth” and will cover key areas in the development of construction and architecture, industry, energy, chemical production, transport and logistics infrastructure, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and modern urban technologies.
Registration for CIET 2026 is now open on the forum’s official website: https://ciet-turkmenistan.com/
