As a business traveller in Ekaterinburg, you walk from the Yeltsin Center back to the Tenet Hotel, passing through the city centre and discovering the rich history of the Ural capital. The Ural region, situated between Europe and Asia, derives its name from the Ural Mountains, which have long been considered the natural boundary between the two continents. The term "Ural" likely originates from the word "ur," meaning "a mountain" in the ancient Turkic and Finno-Ugric languages.

Russians began to explore and settle in the Ural region in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Ekaterinburg was founded by Vasily Tatishchev and Georg Wilhelm de Gennin in 1723 and was named in honour of Empress Catherine II (Catherine the Great). Its original name was Ekaterinburg, which was briefly changed to Sverdlovsk during the Soviet era before reverting to its original name in 1991.

Before the Bolshevik Revolution, Ekaterinburg was a vital industrial and cultural centre, with a thriving mining and metalworking industry due to the abundant natural resources of the Ural Mountains. The city also served as a hub for the arts, with a rich theatre, music, and literature tradition.

In modern times, Ekaterinburg has continued to grow in importance as a significant industrial, cultural, and economic centre. It is the administrative centre of the Sverdlovsk Oblast. It plays a vital role in Russia's economy, primarily due to its industrial sector and strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, hosting numerous festivals, exhibitions, and conferences, making it a key player in Russia's contemporary landscape.