Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia — meaning it is surrounded by other landlocked countries — bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. It is the most populous country in Central Asia and sits at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, the legendary network of trade routes that connected China and East Asia with the Middle East and Europe for over a thousand years. This strategic location made Uzbekistan one of the great crossroads of world civilisation.

Samarkand, one of the world's oldest cities, was the glittering capital of Tamerlane's vast 14th-century empire and one of the most magnificent cities in Central Asian history. The Registan — a monumental square surrounded by three ornate Islamic madrassas with brilliant blue-tiled domes — is one of the most beautiful public spaces on Earth. Bukhara and Khiva are similarly stunning ancient cities that preserve medieval Islamic architecture with extraordinary intactness.

With a population of around 35 million people, Uzbekistan is a young and dynamic country that gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It is a major producer of cotton, gold, and natural gas. Tashkent, the capital, is the largest city in Central Asia — a modern metropolis rebuilt largely after a devastating earthquake in 1966. Under recent reforms, Uzbekistan has opened up to tourism and international business, and the country's extraordinary historical and cultural heritage is attracting growing numbers of visitors.