Alatau City Prepares to Launch Construction of Iconic Towers - A World-Class Multifunctional Complex

Total private investment in the project has exceeded $800 million, with full construction completion and commissioning planned by the end of 2029.

11.02.2026

Technical Specifications and Zoning of Iconic Towers

The total floor area of the futuristic complex will reach 276,800 square meters. The Iconic Towers complex will include:

The primary tower, rising 56 floors, which will house Class A office space and premium residential apartments.
An 80-meter tower dedicated entirely to a five-star international hotel.
A three-level podium forming the base of the skyscraper, featuring cultural spaces and a retail and entertainment center with a total area of 58,000 square meters.

The project is built around the concept of a “vertical city,” designed to support the autonomous daily life of thousands of employees and residents within a unified environment. Residential, business, and hospitality zones will remain fully separated to ensure operational efficiency and privacy.

Iconic Towers will become the tallest building in the Almaty region and southern Kazakhstan, reaching a height of 272 meters, nearly 110 meters taller than Esentai Tower (162 meters).

The Architectural Vision Behind Iconic Towers

The architectural design of Iconic Towers was developed by internationally recognized industry leaders Zaha Hadid Architects (UK) and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM, USA).

The selected concept design, titled “Mountain Landscape,” was created by SOM, the firm responsible for designing the world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa in Dubai. SOM has also designed globally significant projects such as One World Trade Center in New York, the National Commercial Bank Tower in Jeddah, Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, and the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Among the company’s most recent projects is the Olympic Village for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.

With a portfolio exceeding 10,000 projects across more than 50 countries, SOM is also known in Kazakhstan for designing the multifunctional Talan Towers complex in Astana.

Construction Partner of Iconic Towers

The construction of Iconic Towers in Alatau City has been entrusted to the global construction leader China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). The partnership was announced in September 2025 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to China.

CSCEC has built approximately 90% of China’s skyscrapers and landmark projects in over 100 countries, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Beijing’s National Stadium (“Bird’s Nest”).

Collaboration with CSCEC provides Iconic Towers with direct access to advanced engineering solutions. For Alatau City, this represents not just construction but the introduction of international standards in both quality and construction efficiency previously applied only to the world’s most prominent skyscraper projects.

Safety Technologies and Investment Attractiveness

Given the region’s seismic activity, Iconic Towers is being designed according to the most rigorous global safety standards. CSCEC experts have carefully analyzed Chinese, European, and American construction regulations to integrate best international practices. The project is currently finalizing its choice between two advanced engineering approaches:

Japanese seismic damping model, which absorbs earthquake energy through controlled structural movement, similar to a vehicle suspension system. This technology has proven highly effective in earthquake-prone cities such as Tokyo and Shanghai.
American reinforced structural framework model, where building stability is achieved through a high-strength steel skeleton capable of withstanding extreme loads. This method is used in projects such as the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.

Construction Timeline of Iconic Towers

Preparatory work at the construction site has already entered an active phase. Engineering and geological surveys, along with test pile installation, are expected to be completed in the coming months. Full-scale excavation is scheduled to begin in May 2026.

Technical planning is progressing in parallel. The consultancy phase is expected to be completed by summer 2026, while full design and cost documentation is scheduled for completion by April 2027.

According to the approved schedule, the complex is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2029.

Construction Timeline of Iconic Towers

Technical planning is progressing in parallel. The consultancy phase is expected to be completed by summer 2026, while full design and cost documentation is scheduled for completion by April 2027.

According to the approved schedule, the complex is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2029.

Strategic Governance and Investment Guarantees

Construction oversight will be carried out by a specially established Executive Committee, responsible for budget approval, risk management, and coordination with government authorities. The committee includes key members of the Alatau City Development Council, including Chief Adviser to the President of Kazakhstan on the design of Alatau City Wong Heang Fine, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Group Yuriy Tskhay, and Alatau City Bank shareholder Vyacheslav Kim. Representing the general contractor, CSCEC International Chairman Gao Bo is also a member of the committee.

At its first meeting on February 9, the committee reviewed the financial model of the Iconic Towers project and discussed measures to enhance its economic efficiency, including optimization of underground construction costs and redistribution of functional areas to maximize profitability.

The direct involvement of globally recognized industry leaders SOM and CSCEC, combined with oversight by the Executive Committee, ensures compliance with international standards throughout all stages of implementation. For international investors, this signals a high level of project reliability and investment security. Iconic Towers is set to establish the central business district of Alatau City, setting a benchmark for future investment projects.