Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has urged citizens to avoid travel to several Middle Eastern countries as military operations continue across the region and many states close their airspace.

In a statement, the ministry strongly advised Kazakh citizens to refrain from all travel to the following countries until the situation stabilizes:
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Israel
• Yemen
• Jordan
• Iraq
• Iran
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman
• Syria

The ministry also called on Kazakh nationals currently in the region to take heightened personal safety precautions, avoid potentially dangerous areas, and follow instructions from local authorities.

Citizens were urged to seek shelter immediately in the event of missile threats and to maintain regular contact with Kazakhstan’s diplomatic missions abroad, as well as with tour operators and airlines.

The advisory comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, disrupting travel and aviation across the region.

Kazakhstan to Link Western Regions to National Grid in Major Network Upgrade by 2027
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will connect the power system of its western regions to the country’s main electricity grid and build thousands of kilometers of new transmission lines as part of a major modernization of the national power network, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry on March 3.

Photo credit: gov.kz

The plan includes the construction…
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Kazakhstan Kicks Off Spring Tourism Season with Cultural and Gastronomic Festivals
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will open its spring tourism season in March with two flagship events showcasing the country’s cultural and culinary heritage, attracting both residents and visitors.

Photo credit: gov.kz

The cultural festival Amal Keldi – Zhyl Keldi, which conveys the idea of welcoming the new year with hope, unity, and renewal, will be…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=112967

Dimash Qudaibergen Named Ambassador of Turkic World Culture by TURKSOY
ALMATY – Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen received the Ambassador of Turkic World Culture order, the highest award of TURKSOY, in recognition of his significant contribution to the development and promotion of Turkic culture at a ceremony held in Astana on March 5.

Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen received the Ambassador of Turkic World Culture order,…
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Women in Kazakhstan Surpass 10.4 Million Ahead of International Women’s Day
ASTANA — Women now make up over 10.4 million people in Kazakhstan, reflecting both the country’s growing population and the expanding role women play in the workforce, entrepreneurship and public life, according to new statistics released by the Bureau of National Statistics ahead of International Women’s Day.

Photo credit: The Astana Times

According to…
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Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe
ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. At 76, the Kazakh traveler has set out on the fourth stage of his long-distance adventures, this time across Europe.

Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, a Kazakh traveler started his fourth adventure in Serbia. Photo credit:…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113107

International Conference Revisits Alikhan Bokeikhan’s Legacy, History of Alash
ASTANA – Astana hosted an international scientific conference on March 5, commemorating the 160th birthday of Alikhan Bokeikhan, one of Kazakhstan’s most renowned early 20th-century statesmen and intellectuals.

Photo credit: Eurasian National University

Hosted at the Eurasian National University, the event brought together academics, lawmakers, public leaders, and students from Kazakhstan, Japan, the Czech…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113150

Kazakhstan Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel to Middle East Amid Ongoing Escalation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has strongly advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to several Middle Eastern countries due to continuing military activity in the region and the closure of airspace in multiple states.

In a statement, the ministry urged Kazakh citizens to avoid all travel to Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq,…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113169

Azerbaijan Thanks Tokayev for Condemning Attack on Nakhchivan
ASTANA — Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for condemning the attack on the Nakhchivan and voicing support for Azerbaijan, describing the gesture as reflecting the brotherly and allied relations between the two countries.

“I express my gratitude to the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his condemnation of the attacks…
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Tokayev Welcomes Iran’s Decision to Refrain From Attacks on Neighboring Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed a statement by Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who announced that the country’s interim leadership council had decided to refrain from attacks on neighboring states.

According to Tokayev, this decision is an important step toward easing tensions in the Middle East, reported the presidential press office on March…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113176

International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World
Over nearly a decade leading the United Nations, I have seen our world repeatedly tested – by climate shocks, deepening poverty, violent conflict and shrinking civic space.

António Guterres.

But I have also watched many solutions take root, and they shared one common denominator: women.

As the world marks International Women’s Day, it is…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=112799

Kazakh Women Scientists Highlight Advances in Medicine
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a meeting with women scientists on March 5 to mark International Women’s Day, highlighting their contributions to research shaping modern medicine and healthcare.

Khadisha Dairova, NU Vice-President for Student Affairs and International Cooperation. Photo credit: The Astana Times

During the event, researchers discussed recent scientific developments ranging from…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113135

Women in Kazakhstan’s Emergency Services Take on Key Roles in Public Safety
ASTANA — Women working in Kazakhstan’s civil protection system are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring public safety, taking on roles as firefighters, rescuers, psychologists and dispatchers across the country. Ahead of International Women’s Day, their growing contribution highlights the expanding presence of women in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Women serve…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113159

How Almaty’s Former Central Post Office Shaped City’s Urban Identity
ALMATY – The spirit of a city is preserved in those buildings that have witnessed thousands of personal stories and every stage of its growth and transformation. Today, as the skyline is reshaped by glass towers and constant redevelopment, it is these long-standing architectural landmarks, now part of the city’s cultural heritage, that continue…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113041

📰Weekly News Digest

Welcome to your weekly digest from The Astana Times. We bring you key stories of the week - all in one quick listen

Rare Animal Population Increases by One-Third in Zhambyl Region
ASTANA — Populations of several rare and protected wildlife species in the Zhambyl Region in southern Kazakhstan rose markedly in 2025, according to data from the regional environmental inspection agency cited by Kazinform news agency. More than 20 species listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book inhabit there.

Photo credit: yandex Click to see the…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113024

Public Awareness of Water Scarcity is Growing, Survey Finds
ASTANA — Nearly half of Kazakh people consider water scarcity a serious issue, and a large majority say they are prepared to change everyday habits to conserve water, according to a national survey conducted by the DEMOSCOPE public opinion monitoring bureau on Feb. 5-15.

Photo credit: Shutterstock.

The survey, conducted among 1,100 adults across…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113048

Global Use of Generative AI Continues to Rise, Kazakhstan Leads Adoption in Central Asia
ALMATY – Global adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) continued to grow in the second half of 2025, rising by 1.2%, compared with the first half of the year, with roughly one in six people worldwide now using generative AI tools, according to analysis released by the Microsoft AI Economy Institute in January.

Photo…
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Kazakhstan Continues Evacuation Efforts as Over 7,300 Citizens Return from Middle East
ASTANA — More than 7,300 Kazakh citizens have been evacuated from the Middle East since the start of the latest regional escalation, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported on March 9, as authorities continue coordinated efforts to bring citizens home.

Kazakh Foreign Ministry released an update on evacuation effort of Kazakh citizens from the Middle…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113178

Kazakhstan Advances in Nuclear Medicine
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Photo credit: oncologybuddies.com

The network of diagnostic centers equipped with high-tech equipment is steadily expanding across…
Read full post here https://astanatimes.com/?p=113102