Representatives of Alatau City Authority took part in Kazakhstan Legal Forum 2026, held on 24–25 September in Almaty. The forum featured a dedicated session on the special legal regime of the city of Alatau, its regulatory architecture, conditions for doing business and the design of the judicial system. The discussion brought together Arman Tastanbekov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Regulatory Policy Officer of Alatau City Authority; Talzhibek Mukhanbetkaliyeva, Director of the Institutional Development Department; Bakhyt Tukulov, partner at TKS Disputes; Timur Odilov, partner at Haller Lomax; and Rashid Gaisin, partner at the London law firm Zaiwalla & Co.
Arman Tastanbekov presented the forum's participants with the key provisions of the special legal regime of Alatau City and the approaches to building the new regulatory environment. In particular, he addressed the legal foundations of the city's special status, the model for regulating business activity, investment guarantees, land and urban planning regulation, and the mechanisms for introducing experimental legal regimes.
“The special legal regime of Alatau City is, above all, an instrument for creating a clear, stable and competitive environment for investors and business. We are building a model in which the constitutional foundation of the Republic of Kazakhstan is combined with modern approaches to commercial regulation. We are working to ensure transparent rules, effective mechanisms for protecting investment and the ability to deliver major projects faster,” said Arman Tastanbekov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Regulatory Policy Officer of Alatau City Authority.
Particular attention was paid to the legal architecture of Alatau City. The Constitutional Law “On the Special Legal Regime of the City of Alatau” forms the basis of the special regulation, while the commercial and regulatory component provides for the use of selected approaches and legal instruments applied in common law jurisdictions. Constitutional foundations, criminal law, international relations and personal rights remain within the legal framework of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Talzhibek Mukhanbetkaliyeva spoke about the development of legislation for the city of Alatau and the key principles of the special legal regime. These include territoriality, subsidiarity, regulatory stability, the priority of private investment, transparency, the “single window” principle and the digital-first nature of procedures.
“We are building Alatau City's own regulatory system, covering the key aspects of doing business — from residency and licensing to tax regulation, construction, infrastructure, digital assets and labour relations. The goal is to give business predictability and stability in its operating conditions,” said Talzhibek Mukhanbetkaliyeva.
One of the central topics of the discussion was the future judicial system of the city of Alatau. The concept presented at the forum provides for a two-tier model with a single court of appeal and a separation of commercial and civil cases. The proposed architecture is aimed at establishing clear dispute resolution mechanisms and increasing legal certainty for business and investors. The speakers noted that work on the regulatory framework of Alatau City is continuing in stages: the city's priority legislation is to be developed by the end of 2026, and the full launch of the special legal regime is planned for July 2027.
Kazakhstan Legal Forum is being held in Kazakhstan for the 16th time and brings together representatives of government bodies, the legal and business communities, and international experts. This year's programme includes more than 10 thematic sessions, with over 130 speakers.