The dark glass Nur Alem sphere rising behind young trees and a lawn under a blue sky with white clouds

Museum · Yesil District, Astana

Nur-Alem (EXPO 2017 sphere)

The giant glass sphere built as the centrepiece of EXPO 2017, now home to the alem.ai artificial intelligence centre

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Photo: ekrem osmanoglu (@konevi) / Unsplash

Discover Nur-Alem (EXPO 2017 sphere)

The sphere stands at the centre of the former EXPO 2017 grounds in Astana's Yesil District, its eight floors wrapped in a glazed shell made with glass designed to cope with the city's cold climate. Conceived by the German architect Albert Speer Jr., it was described during the exhibition as the world's largest spherical building, and its top floor offers views across the new city.

During and after the expo the eight floors each told a part of the 'Future Energy' story: Kazakhstan's culture and energy projects on the ground floor, then water, kinetic, biomass, wind, solar and space energy, with a viewing platform at the top. Today the building has a new purpose. As alem.ai it brings together a public space with immersive and interactive displays, the Museum of Singularity, education programmes, AI start-up support and research labs.

Don’t miss

01The glass sphere, about 80 metres across, at the heart of the EXPO 2017 site
02The Museum of Singularity and immersive AI exhibits on the public ground floor
03Architecture designed by Albert Speer Jr. as the expo's central pavilion
04The wider EXPO grounds, now a business, education and events district

History & culture

The story of Nur-Alem (EXPO 2017 sphere)

Astana hosted EXPO 2017 from 10 June to 10 September 2017 under the theme 'Future Energy', the first world's fair held in Central Asia; around four million visits were recorded. Nur Alem, named by the head of the national EXPO company, was the central pavilion, and over 1.3 million people went inside during the expo. Afterwards it reopened as the Museum of the Future, the country's first museum of future energy, while the surrounding grounds became home to the Astana International Financial Centre and Astana IT University.

The sphere has since been refitted as the alem.ai International Centre for Artificial Intelligence. According to its website, the ground floor is a public space, the second and third floors host the free TUMO Astana creative-technology programme for teenagers, and the upper floors house Tomorrow School, an AI research university, a start-up campus, research labs and an AI-in-government unit.

Local life & traditions

The EXPO grounds have become a working district, with the Astana International Financial Centre as the anchor tenant and Astana IT University in one of the former pavilions. Inside the sphere, teenagers attend TUMO Astana's free programmes in animation, programming, design and music, and adults study at Tomorrow School, so the building is busy with students as well as visitors.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Visitors buy a ticket for the public part of alem.ai, the Museum of Singularity, which uses projection-filled spaces, immersive tunnels, an interactive exhibition on the history of artificial intelligence, art installations, an AI cinema and robotics zones; guided tours can be booked for groups. The sphere is equally striking from outside, and a walk around the former expo grounds takes in the pavilions that now house the financial centre, a university and exhibition halls.

When to go

As an indoor attraction, the sphere can be visited in any season and is a good option on cold winter days. Note that the public exhibition is closed on Mondays.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours (2026): Museum of Singularity: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:30; Monday is a maintenance day. Source: alem.ai ↗
Admission (2026): ₸2,500 per person; a guided tour for groups of up to 30 people costs ₸10,000, with admission tickets bought separately. Children under 7 and some other groups enter free, and pensioners are free on Tuesdays with proof of eligibility. Source: alem.ai ↗
Tickets: Sold online through YouTicket. Source: alem.ai ↗
Size: About 80 metres in diameter, with eight floors. Source: inform.kz ↗

Checked against the sources on 31 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Plan your visit for Tuesday to Sunday; the exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Buy tickets online in advance through YouTicket.
Bring documents if you qualify for free or reduced entry.
Walk around the outside of the sphere for the best views of its glass shell.
Combine the visit with Khan Shatyr and Baiterek, a short ride to the north.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Nur-Alem (EXPO 2017 sphere): food, markets & places to stay

Nur Alem stands on Mangilik El Avenue in the centre of the former EXPO 2017 grounds, among pavilions now used by the Astana International Financial Centre and Astana IT University. Khan Shatyr, Nurzhol Boulevard and Baiterek lie a short distance to the north on the left bank.