Alatau City Granted Special Status: What Will Change for Investors and Residents?
The document outlines strategic priorities, including: strengthening Kazakhstan’s innovation-driven economy, developing high-tech industries, and transforming Alatau City into an international hub of business and technological activity.
Under the decree, Alatau City has officially been granted special status as a city of accelerated development.
One of the key provisions of the Decree is the establishment of the Alatau City Development Council - a strategic body bringing together representatives of the Government, the National Bank, local authorities, Kazakhstani political and economic leaders, and international experts. The Council will be responsible for approving investment and innovation projects, overseeing implementation, and shaping the city’s long-term development policy.
In addition, a state-backed fund - the Alatau City Authority (ACA) - will be established. This governing body will be tasked with project implementation, infrastructure coordination, and international promotion of the city. The Development Council will serve as the highest decision-making authority of ACA.
The next critical step is the preparation of this law, which will define the city’s unique regulatory framework in key sectors such as: investment policy, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, Smart City infrastructure, next-generation transport systems, energy and environmental management.
In effect, this law will serve as the legal foundation for a city of the future, where innovation is embedded in every aspect of life. The draft must be formally submitted to Parliament no later than December 31, 2025.
This concept will lay the foundation for a new regulatory model, establishing the principles of interaction, regulatory mechanisms, and a unified framework for the city’s development.
Discussions are also underway on enhancing Alatau City’s legal regime by adopting elements of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) framework and introducing additional legal safeguards to strengthen investor protection.
For investors, this means a transparent legal system, predictable decision-making, and institutional guarantees - a solid foundation for trust in the Alatau City project and its long-term resilience.
