Imagine buying a new car and being told you can only choose one colour: white because that is the only colour allowed for cars in the country.
That unusual reality has existed in parts of Turkmenistan, a Central Asian country known for its strict regulations and unique urban policies.
In the country’s capital, Ashgabat, authorities have long favoured white vehicles, making them a common sight on the city’s wide boulevards.
The preference for white cars became increasingly noticeable during the 2010s, when reports emerged that owners of black and other dark-coloured vehicles were being required to repaint their cars or face restrictions on using them in the city. As a result, thousands of motorists switched to white or silver vehicles to comply with the rules.
The policy is widely believed to be linked to the personal preferences of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who reportedly viewed white as a colour associated with good fortune and prosperity.
Ashgabat itself is famous for its striking white appearance. The city holds records for having one of the highest concentrations of white marble-clad buildings in the world, creating a distinctive urban landscape that complements the abundance of white vehicles on its streets.
While there is no nationwide law requiring every vehicle in Turkmenistan to be white, the restrictions in Ashgabat have made the city one of the few places in the world where motorists overwhelmingly drive white-coloured cars.
For visitors arriving in the capital, the sight can be striking: rows of white sedans, SUVs and taxis moving between gleaming white buildings, creating a cityscape unlike almost anywhere else on Earth.
