As it is going to be my new country of residence for the next couple of years or more I had a bit of a brain storm and quick research about this potential ‘Dubai of the steppes’.

• Host of the 2017 Expo
• 9th largest country in the world – larger than all the EU countries combined
• largest land-locked country in the world
• Astana has been the capital since 1997 – annual Day of the Capital national holiday on July 6th
• Astana is the 2nd coldest capital in the world
• Population of approximately 18 million
• Capital has population of less than 1 million
• Nursultan Nazarbayev has been president since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 – annual President’s Day  national holiday on December 1st
• Country is bordered by 5 other nations: China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia
• Nuclear weapon free
• Country competitors won 12 gold medals in London Olympics, 2012
• Part of the Silk Road
• Yurts
• Vast steppes
• Horses – both to ride and to eat
• Mineral, oil and gas rich
• Ghengis Khan
• Baikonur Cosmodrome – currently only place were humans are launched into space
• Country has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites for culture: city of Turkestan and Chang’an – Tianshan Silk Road corridor, Koja Ahmed Yassavy Mausoleum and the Tamely-Tas rock carvings.
• County also has an UNESCO World Heritage Site for natural beauty: Tamely-Tas rock carvings
• Both the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Khan Shatyr shopping mall and entertainment centre (with a beach) were designed by Sir Norman Foster

According to the website expatistan.com, Astana is 66% cheaper to live in than Dubai.

I am sure I will be adding more to this list as I explore this vast country with such ethnic diversity and culture.