The ‘Art of Breeding the Turkmen Alabay’ has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On 11 December 2025, during the ongoing 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in New Delhi, Republic of India, a final decision was adopted to inscribe on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity the nomination submitted by Turkmenistan, “Art of Breeding the Turkmen Alabay”.

This decision was taken unanimously by the 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, following a highly positive assessment by independent experts and the UNESCO Evaluation Body.

The nomination was prepared on the initiative and with the constant support of the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan and the Esteemed National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag. Over a number of years, large-scale work was carried out to document this living tradition: field expeditions to the regions, collection of oral testimonies from elders, description of rituals associated with the birth and upbringing of puppies, preparation of scholarly, photo and video materials, and confirmation of the inclusion of the element in the national inventory of intangible heritage. The work involved relevant ministries and agencies, scholars, canine specialists, cultural experts, community representatives and Turkmen Alabay breeders.

“This is a historic day for Turkmenistan. The inclusion of the art of breeding the Turkmen Alabay in the List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity is a recognition of the value of our way of life, our traditions and our spiritual guidelines,” noted the head of the Turkmenistan delegation to UNESCO, Deputy Minister of Education Aleksandr Amanov.

This decision is particularly significant as it comes in the International Year of Peace and Trust and in the year of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. The Turkmen Alabay, which serves as a symbol of loyalty, peaceful protection and responsibility, is now enshrined not only in the national consciousness, but also in the international register of intangible cultural heritage, opening up new opportunities for promoting Turkmen culture and strengthening educational and upbringing work with young people.

In total, 66 national and multinational nominations submitted by States Parties for inscription on various lists under the Convention were examined at the 20th session. Of these, 54 were nominated for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 11 for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 1 for inclusion in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The work of the session of the Intergovernmental Committee will continue until 13 December of this year.