U.S. downtown style business center planned in Kazakhstan

Photo: The Alatau SEZ website; photo editor: Dastan Shanay

A large business complex, Iconic Towers, will be built in the city of Alatau, with total investment exceeding $800 million. The architectural concept for the project is being developed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), an American firm known for its iconic skyscrapers worldwide.

Due to the high importance of the project, which is one of the key initiatives designed to promote Alatau as an investment, technology and business hub, the site was visited by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during his business trip to the Almaty region.

Kazakhstan signed the agreement to build the Iconic Towers in September 2025, during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to China. The complex is expected to become the anchor project of the new Gate District area.

Iconic Towers will include two towers, office space, apartments, a hotel and retail space totaling 276,800 square meters. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2029.

The Gate District business area and the Iconic Towers project are being implemented by Yuri Tskhay, a former senator and chairman of the board of directors of Caspian Group. Authorities hope the project will symbolize the emergence of Alatau City as a new economic growth hub in the region.

The Gate District will be located between the settlements of Otegen Batyr, Pokrovka, Koyankus, Yntymak and Zhanalyk. It will offer special business conditions, including zero rates for corporate income tax, individual income tax, land tax and property tax.