Kazakhstan pushes "city that never sleeps" concept for Almaty

Authorities in Kazakhstan are moving forward with plans to transform Almaty into a “24/7 city,” following discussions at a meeting of the city’s akimat focused on enhancing nighttime safety, improving urban lighting, and extending the operating hours of cultural and tourist facilities.

Tourist arrivals in Almaty rose by 8 percent, reaching 1.9 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025. The growth has reinforced the city’s ambition to position itself as a leading regional tourism hub, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

As part of the initiative, officials plan to further expand tourism infrastructure in 2026, including the improvement and development of approximately 350 kilometres of mountain trails aimed at attracting outdoor and adventure tourism.

The project follows an earlier directive by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who called for Almaty to be transformed into a city that, like New York, Moscow, and Paris, “never sleeps,” operating around the clock to better serve residents and visitors alike.

By Vafa Guliyeva