Ulaanbaatar City has begun work to partially clear the Sambalkhundev Cemetery as part of efforts to implement the city’s long-term development plans and create a healthier and safer living environment for residents.

The project is being carried out in line with the relevant plans adopted by the Citizens’ Representative Khural of the Capital City, and the 2024–2028 Strategic Action Program for Ulaanbaatar approved by the Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar.

A total of 70 hectares of land at the cemetery is planned to be cleared. Work to free up 18.1 hectares has commenced this year. According to the Media and Public Relations Division, the relocation of remains will take into consideration the wishes and preferences of the deceased’s family members.

Families will be notified and given a specified period to contact the relevant authorities. If no family member establishes contact within the designated period, the remains will be cremated in accordance with the relevant funeral rites, and the ashes will be placed in a stupa, the administration said. 

Sambalkhundev Cemetery is one of Ulaanbaatar’s long-established burial grounds and is located in an increasingly urbanized area of the capital city. As the city continues to expand, cemeteries within densely populated areas have raised concerns over land use, environmental conditions and the health and safety of nearby residents. The partial clearance of the cemetery is therefore part of broader efforts to reorganize urban land use and create a safer, more orderly living environment while ensuring that the relocation of remains is carried out with due respect for the deceased and their families.