Updated: 285 stories · 217 Sources
Focus: Alatau · Алатау
Alatau: city of accelerated development
The smart city of the future between Almaty and Konaev – put into context for European companies
Everything about the new city of Alatau in Kazakhstan in one place: official announcements and press coverage, grouped into stories, summarised and put into context for European companies.
- Projects
- 67
- Investment
- approx. 6.9 bn USD
- Area
- 88,000 ha
What is Alatau?
Alatau is a new city in Kazakhstan, about 50 km north of Almaty, between Almaty and Konaev. It grows out of the former settlement of Zhetygen, which became a city under the name Alatau on 9 January 2024. Source
Since the constitutional law of 8 May 2026 Alatau is a “city of accelerated development” with its own special legal regime: its own rules for companies, a resident status and the right to set its own tax rates and incentives. The regime takes effect in stages until 1 July 2027. Source
The city is planned in four districts with their own purposes, from finance and administration towards Almaty to tourism on the Kapchagay reservoir. According to the general plan it may have more than two million inhabitants by 2050. Source
- 67projects in the government's interim report (28 Aug 2026)Source: The Astana Times
- approx. 6.9 bn USDinvestment in these projectsSource: The Astana Times
- approx. 55,000planned jobs from these projectsSource: The Astana Times
- approx. 2 mtarget population by 2050Source: Tengrinews
- 88,000 hatotal area according to the city authoritySource: Alatau City Authority (official website)
Four districts, four purposes
Green District
- Tourism · Recreation
Tourism and recreation, south of Konaev on the Kapchagay reservoir and the Kaskelen river.
14 stories
- Alatau: Removal of 28 Mobile Network Gaps Planned by End of 2026 · derived from the type of project
- Alatau: Akmakat approves sites for mobile markets along the highway · derived from the type of project
- Melco and Kazakh PM Explore Tourism Cooperation in Alatau City
Growing District
- Industry · Logistics
Industry and logistics along the Almaty–Kapchagay motorway and the railway.
20 stories
- Alatau: MoU for Development of OIZ TULIP Industrial Zone with CMEC · derived from the type of project
- Alatau: Integration of Existing Industrial Zones into New City Regime Starting 2027 · derived from the type of project
- Kazakhstan and UBTECH Robotics Plan Robotics Deployment in Alatau City · derived from the type of project
Golden District
- Education · Health · Innovation
Education, health and innovation, in the middle of the city area.
10 stories
Gate District
- Finance · Administration · Business
Finance, administration and business, bordering the south towards Almaty.
52 stories
- Alatau: Akim Arinov Presents Investment Projects and Infrastructure · derived from the type of project
- Alatau: Memoranda with Chinese Tech Firms for Smart City Infrastructure · derived from the type of project
- Alatau: First Tokenization Pilot Projects for Iconic Tower and Birlik · derived from the type of project
Schematic map, not to scale. Own drawing. Source: Alatau City Authority (8 Nov 2026). Each story is placed in a district when a source names it or the type of project makes it clear. Hover or tap a district.
What happened last
The latest stories, each grouped from all its sources.
- Alatau: Akim Arinov Presents Investment Projects and Infrastructure
Chingis Arinov, Akim of the Almaty Region, reported on the socio-economic development of Alatau city during a public meeting. The discussion focused on major investment projects such as the Iconic Complex and improvements to social infrastructure. Challenges regarding land allocation and road construction were also addressed.
- Alatau: Memoranda with Chinese Tech Firms for Smart City InfrastructureOfficial: Alatau City Authority
The Alatau City Authority signed five memoranda and one letter of intent in China in November 2026. Partners include Zhongguancun Smart City and CECEP Lattice Technology. Plans involve integrating IoT, digital twins, and smart grids.
- Alatau: Inclusion in Almaty Agglomeration via Government Resolution
The Kazakh Cabinet has adjusted the boundaries of the Almaty agglomeration via a resolution signed on November 5, 2026. The new city of Alatau was officially included in the agglomeration, replacing the previous entry in the register. Simultaneously, six settlements were removed from the list.
- Alatau: No free plots for individual housing construction planned
No free allocation of 10 ares of land for individual housing construction (IHS) is planned for the city of Alatau. The relevant authority of the Almaty region stated that such practice is not planned in the new city. The focus is currently on developing engineering infrastructure in the surrounding areas.
What happens when
The special legal regime takes effect in stages. The rings count the days.
-
✓in force
First stage of the special legal regime in force
Source: Legal500: Alatau City special legal regime – key points for investors -
50days
Resident status becomes mandatory for the main activity
Source: Legal500: Alatau City special legal regime – key points for investors -
231days
Special legal regime fully in force
Source: Legal500: Alatau City special legal regime – key points for investors
From village to city of accelerated development
Decrees, the special legal regime and the deadlines, each with its source.
Constitutional law No. 286-VIII signed: “city of accelerated development”
Source: Legal500First stage of the regime in force
Source: Legal500Government report: 67 projects, approx. 6.9 bn USD, approx. 55,000 jobs
Source: The Astana Times- 12 Nov 2026
Resident status mandatory; SEZ projects may move to resident companies until 1 July
Source: Legal500Special legal regime fully in force
Source: Legal500
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