Konya-The Mystical City of Mevlana
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Konya is Türkiye’s largest province by area and the 6th largest city
Located in central Anatolia. The city offers a calm, peaceful and serene environment. The city offers best of both worlds. It is a modern well developed city which has all the facilities and amenities of a large metropolitan city like hospitals, schools, universities, parks, shopping malls, excellent road network, high speed train and airport, etc, minus the negatives of a large city like long distances, traffic congestion, pollution, high cost of living, etc.
The city is not only a modern industrial city but has a lot of history entrenched within it, that offers a perfect blend of modernity with history, culture and Islamic heritage.
Konya, located in Central Anatolia, is Türkiye’s largest province by land area, covering approximately 41,000 km². Situated at an elevation of about 3,370 feet (1,027 meters) on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, it is surrounded by a fertile plain and backed by the Taurus Mountains to the south. Its central location makes it a strategic hub, connecting major cities like Ankara, Antalya, and Mersin. Konya neighbors nine provinces, providing access to over 10 million people in the region. The city is well-connected via high-speed rail (YHT) to Istanbul (4.5 hrs) Ankara (2.5 hrs), and by road to Antalya (2.5 hrs) a modern airport with frequent flights to Istanbul, and a 41-km tram network.
As of 2024, Konya’s metropolitan province has a population of approximately 2.33 million, with 1.43 million residing in its three central urban districts (Karatay, Selçuklu, and Meram). This makes Konya the sixth most populous city in Türkiye and the second largest in Central Anatolia after Ankara. The population is notably young, with 15.9% aged 15–24, and well-educated, supported by five universities hosting over 130,000 students. Konya’s low unemployment rate of 4.7% (compared to Türkiye’s 9.7%) reflects a skilled and active workforce.
Konya’s economy is diverse, with significant contributions from industry (31.9%), agriculture (20.3%), and services (47.7%) to its 2023 Gross Domestic Product. The city is a leader in agricultural machinery (65% of Türkiye’s market), metal processing machines (45%), and vehicle-mounted equipment (70%).
It ranks first in automotive sub-industry enterprises and second in machinery-equipment manufacturing. Konya’s exports reached $3.36 billion in 2023, a 39-fold increase since 2000, with products shipped to over 180 countries, primarily Russia, Iraq, Germany, the USA, and Italy. The city hosts 603 foreign-capital companies from 66 countries, with Syria, Germany, and Iraq leading investments.
Konya’s economy is diverse, with significant contributions from industry (31.9%), agriculture (20.3%), and services (47.7%) to its 2023 Gross Domestic Product. The city is a leader in agricultural machinery (65% of Türkiye’s market), metal processing machines (45%), and vehicle-mounted equipment (70%).
It ranks first in automotive sub-industry enterprises and second in machinery-equipment manufacturing. Konya’s exports reached $3.36 billion in 2023, a 39-fold increase since 2000, with products shipped to over 180 countries, primarily Russia, Iraq, Germany, the USA, and Italy. The city hosts 603 foreign-capital companies from 66 countries, with Syria, Germany, and Iraq leading investments.
- Historical and Cultural Significance: Konya, once the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum (1071–1308), is a global center for Sufism, home to the Mevlana Museum and the Whirling Dervishes. Its archaeological sites, like Çatalhöyük (dating to 7000 BC), make it one of the world’s oldest urban centers.
- Innovation Ecosystem: Konya fosters innovation with 22 R&D centers, 1 design center, and initiatives like the ENHANCER Project for entrepreneurship.
- Strategic Location: Its low earthquake risk (4th-5th degree zone) and proximity to major ports like Mersin enhance its appeal for investors.
- Education Hub: Universities like Selçuk and Necmettin Erbakan produce a qualified workforce, with Konya ranking fourth in Türkiye for formal university students.
Education
- Type: Public
- Founded: 1975
- Overview: One of the largest universities in Turkey, with over 63,000 students, including approximately 2,200 international students from 105 countries. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across faculties such as Science, Literature, Engineering, and Tourism. Selçuk University is ranked 20th in Turkey by Times Higher Education (2023) and is known for its vibrant campus life and cultural events.
- Notable Features: Hosts a Welcome Festival and Spring Festival annually, with facilities like a practice hotel run by the Department of Tourism.
- Type: Public
- Founded: 2010
- Overview: A prominent public university offering programs in Engineering, Education, Medicine, Tourism, and Social Sciences. It ranks highly in Konya, with a #1201 position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2025) and #351 in Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.
- Notable Features: Known for innovation, with strategic plans to enhance technical equipment and services.
- Type: Public
- Founded: 2018
- Overview: Established as the second public university in Konya, focusing on technical and engineering disciplines. It includes faculties like Engineering and Natural Sciences, Architecture and Design, and a Vocational School of Technical Sciences. It accepts a significant number of international students and emphasizes industry collaboration.
- Notable Features: Offers study in two shifts (morning and evening) and requires the YÖS test for admission.
- Type: Private
- Founded: 2009
- Overview: A private university offering programs in Health Sciences, Engineering, and Social Sciences. It provides scholarships and tuition waivers for international students and focuses on producing competent graduates.
- Notable Features: Known for its modern campus and student-oriented approach.
- Type: Private
- Founded: Not explicitly stated, but active in recent rankings
- Overview: Specializes in Natural Sciences, particularly Chemistry, and offers programs in English and Turkish. It has international agreements with universities like Michigan State University and the University of Missouri.
- Notable Features: Focuses on agriculture and food sciences, appealing to students interested in these fields.
- Admission to these universities often requires entrance exams like YÖS, SAT, GRE, or GMAT, particularly for international students.
- Tuition fees are relatively affordable compared to European universities, and many institutions offer scholarships or tuition waivers.
Konya has a cold semi-arid climate. Summers are warm, with daytime temperatures averaging 30°C (86°F). Winters are cold, averaging -4.2°C (24°F).
The overall weather is moderate with warm summers and cold but not extreme winters.
Precipitation is low, mostly occurring as snow in winter or rain in spring and autumn.