Presented as a future major technological and economic hub, the city of Alatau in Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of institutional structuring after obtaining special status, amid persistent uncertainties about its development.

On 27 March, Kazakhstan’s Parliament adopted a law establishing a special legal regime for the city of Alatau, located a few dozen kilometres from Almaty. This status as a “territory of accelerated development”, with specific economic, administrative and legal rules, is intended to attract investment and foster innovation. The decision marks an important step in the evolution of a project that has been presented for several years as a future technological showcase for the country.

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Until recently, however, Alatau remained largely associated with political announcements and ambitious projections, without any real implementation on the ground. The adoption of this special status therefore reflects the Kazakhstani authorities’ desire to structure the project and give it an operational dimension. It remains to be seen whether this institutional advance will make it possible to turn a futuristic vision into a tangible reality.

A project revived by the adoption of a special legal regime

According to the municipality, the city will now benefit from a distinct governance system, with an organisation designed to speed up decision-making and facilitate the establishment of economic actors. The project notably provides for the creation of a strategic authority, the Alatau City Authority, responsible for defining development priorities, as well as an operational body dedicated to the day-to-day management of the project.

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The city will therefore be placed under the supervision of a council chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, in order to ensure direct coordination at the highest level of the state. At the same time, traditional local institutions, such as akimats and maslikhats, will retain their powers in urban management and public social services.

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Beyond governance, this status comes with a specific regulatory framework, including tax incentives, simplified administrative procedures and rules adapted to innovative sectors. This development allows the project to move beyond the announcement stage and enter a concrete institutional framework, marking a new phase in its development.

An economic and regulatory framework designed to attract investment

Launched in the early years of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s mandate in the 2020s, Alatau is intended to become a hub capable of attracting international investment and supporting the country’s economic diversification, notably through its integration into a special economic zone.

The city, which has more than 50,000 inhabitants, is also intended to become a hub for digital technologies, digital assets and innovative financial services. In May 2025, President Tokayev announced the creation of a pilot zone called “CryptoCity” in Alatau, where cryptocurrencies could be legally used to pay for goods and services. This direction is part of a broader strategy aimed at positioning Kazakhstan as an emerging player in high value-added sectors.

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Several concrete initiatives illustrate this ambition. As reported by Alatau City, discussions have been held with South Korea under the Economic Innovation Partnership Program, or EIPP, for the development of the city’s infrastructure. In addition, a branch of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, or KAIST, one of South Korea’s leading technological universities, is set to be established in Alatau, strengthening its academic and scientific positioning.

Financial ambitions are also significant. According to the Kazakh authorities, planned investment in the project could reach 10.4 trillion tenge, or around €20 billion. At the same time, the municipality has announced the upcoming start of construction on a landmark architectural complex called “Iconic Towers”. Work is due to begin in May 2026, with completion expected by 2029, at an estimated cost of $800 million, or around €680 million. These elements reflect a desire to give Alatau an economic, technological and symbolic dimension.

Between stated ambitions and persistent uncertainties

Despite these advances, several factors call for caution regarding the project’s immediate impact. In particular, a lack of clarity remains around the tax and legal rules applicable to Alatau, raising questions about the coherence and effective implementation of the system. These uncertainties reflect the difficulties inherent in creating an entirely new regulatory framework.

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Above all, the situation on the ground remains limited at this stage. In March 2026, Kazakh influencer Alimbek Ulan visited the Alatau site and observed the start of excavation work on the outskirts of the area concerned. However, no major structural progress was visible, confirming that the project remains largely in a preparatory phase.

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This gap between stated ambitions and concrete progress has fuelled criticism from some observers, who point to the risk of Alatau remaining a primarily symbolic project. The year 2026 therefore appears to be a decisive moment: with the announced launch of construction work, the authorities will have to demonstrate their ability to turn announcements into reality and begin a genuine construction phase.

Lenny Cabrol Noto
Author for Novastan

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Nestled in the heart of the mountains at an altitude of 2,511 meters, the Big Lake of Almaty, with its azure blue water and pine forests, is a natural alpine reservoir located 15 km south of Almaty inKazakhstan.

Since 2023, the road leading to the lake has been closed to motor vehicles for environmental reasons. However, it is possible to reach it on foot or by bike; the 10 km ride offers magnificent panoramic views.

Credits: Marie Clémino, France

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The Ascension Cathedral is the largest Orthodox building (56 metres high) built entirely of wood and the second largest in the world. It was this architecture that enabled it to survive the 1911 earthquake, just four years after its construction. This cathedral closely resembles Russian and Muscovite churches in its ship-like shape. However, it is located in the large city of Almaty, in the far south of Kazakhstan. The bright colours of the façade and domes are highlighted by the greenery surrounding Panfilov Park.

Crédit : Marie Clémino (France)

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In Almaty, and perhaps more so than anywhere else in the Central Asian steppes, the layers of the past are reflected in the diverse architectural facades. The relocation of the capital to Astana in 1997 saved many Soviet buildings from mass destruction, including the most iconic structures designed by Dinmukhamed Kunayev (1912-1993). These modernist buildings are now the focus of citizen initiatives aimed at protecting a heritage threatened by the privatisation of the building stock. A green city renowned for integrating vegetation into its urban planning, Almaty is now seeing its streets filled with new buildings with mirrored glass façades. These constructions are intended to be emblematic of a globalised futuristic architecture, similar to that of Astana. However, this style has received a mixed reception, as evidenced by the reactions to the renovation of the Palace of the Republic.

Credits : Simone Bergonzi (Italy, @simobergz))

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“Near the Green Bazaar at 3 a.m., I saw a bus and asked where it was headed. It was transporting street cleaners to neighborhoods across Almaty to clear snow from the streets. Now, every clean boulevard reminds me of those workers who rise at dawn to keep the city clean. Respect to them.”
Winter in Almaty is harsh. In January temperature can drop to -20°C and it’s very common to see the city covered by a thick blanket of snow.

Credits: Tommaso Aguzzi (Italy, @tomaguzzi)

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A plane appears to be flying over the Hotel Kazakhstan in Almaty. This building, built in 1977 and capable of withstanding an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, has become a symbol of the city, to the point of appearing for a time on the 5000 Tenge banknote.

Credits : Simone Bergonzi (@simobergz, Italie)

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A man protests on the streets of Almaty for the release of all political prisoners in Kazakhstan. His sign reads: We demand an end to harassment of civil society activists! Release of all political prisoners. In January 2022, more than 200 people were killed in violent riots in Kazakhstan. Despite subsequent reforms and announcements of a “new Kazakhstan,” the process of coming to terms with the events, often referred to as “bloody January,” has stalled. For the relatives of those killed, the tough battle with the authorities means further hardship. Credit: Nils Dörling

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As the name suggests, the First President’s Park in Almaty is named after the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It was opened to the public in 2011 and is located in Bostandyk district of Almaty. In the park there are various arrangements and smaller sights, such as this “Japanese Garden”.Credit: Connie Lee

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A palatial building is dedicated to television in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan: The building, built in 1983 with its stained glass panes and stalactite-like ornamentation, still houses the Kazakh state television, Khabar. Credit : Raban Haijk (Netherlands)

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The monument of a Kazakh woman forms part of the Independence Monument on Republic Square, one of the central squares in Almaty, Kazakhstan.Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)Find all of our photos of the day here.

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Right in the centre of Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, there is an amusement park with a roller coaster.Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)Find all of our photos of the day here.

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This “Stolovaya” – a canteen – in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is characterised by its particularly colourful design.

Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)

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The Esentai River divides the Kazakh city of Almaty from north to south.Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)Find all of our photos of the day here.

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Almaty has the only metro network in Kazakhstan to date – and next to the Uzbek capital Tashkent the second in Central Asia. The local metro was planned in the 1980s, but only opened in 2011. Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands) Find all of our photos of the day here.

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On an astrophotographic night, even above 2500m, the light pollution of the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan is always apparent. Credit: Andy Howe (United Kingdom) Find all of our photos of the day here.

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Not far from Almaty in Kazakhstan, away from the main road, you can see horses grazing to pass the time with an impressive mountain range as a backdrop.

Credit: Andy Howe (United Kingdom)

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In Kazakhstan, a sunset in Shymbulak near Almaty totally engulfed in the pink haze.

Credit: Andy Howe (United Kingdom)

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You can find many styles of architecture in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan.

Credit: Marek Felten (Germany)

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Opened in 2018, the “MEGA” mall in Almaty is a mall of superlatives: it is the largest shopping centre in the Almaty region and houses, among other things, the largest cinema in Kazakhstan with 15 screens.

Foto: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)

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The circular wedding palace in Almaty in southwest Kazakhstan is a unique example of modernist Soviet architecture. It was completed in 1971 and has lost none of its solemnity to this day.

Credit: Raban Haaijk (Netherlands)

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