The image was created using AI and is for illustrative purposes only.
Imagine a city that works as smoothly as a good smartphone. Transport arrives on time, emergency services respond faster than you can dial a number, road cameras do not merely record violations but help prevent accidents, and utility services learn about a problem before residents even notice it. Such a “smart” city is no longer a futurist fantasy. From January 1, 2026, Kazakhstan will begin operating under a new Smart City methodology: a reference standard that sets clear rules and guidelines for the digital development of all cities in the country.
The methodology combines the principles of human-centeredness, environmental responsibility, transparency and digital equality. It covers key areas of urban life: governance, safety, transport and logistics, education, the social sphere, housing and utilities, and the economy. In effect, it is a framework on which cities can rely when creating a convenient, technological and sustainable urban environment.
Today, more and more information is appearing around smart cities. A vivid example is the Alatau City project, as well as cities of national significance where international players are implementing their solutions, while regions develop local digital systems. In this context, it is important to explain in simple terms the key cornerstones of how cities will operate under the new methodology. For this purpose, we spoke with Ilya Belyakov, Director of the Technical Department of INTEGRA CITY Group of Companies. The company specializes in the universal INTEGRA solution, a digital ecosystem combining platform tools for managing all aspects of urban life. The platform is powered by artificial intelligence and provides comprehensive digitalization of urban processes, making cities more convenient, protected and technologically advanced.
The image was created using AI and is for illustrative purposes only.
What does the Smart City methodology mean for Kazakhstan’s residents?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “The methodology sets a unified standard for cities where technology truly works for people. A smart city is about convenience: services operate faster, streets become safer, and management becomes more transparent. The methodology makes it possible to implement innovations consistently and systematically.”
What changes will residents notice first?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “Automation of city services and synchronization of data. The methodology defines key areas such as transport, utilities, safety and social services. Information about road conditions, public transport and engineering networks will help solve everyday tasks more quickly and accurately.”
Why has technology become a key element of the methodology?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “A modern city is a living organism. The Smart City methodology requires a digital nervous system: IoT sensors, video surveillance with AI analytics, and automated infrastructure management. This saves resources, increases protection and makes management transparent.”
Why does Kazakhstan need international partners?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “To adopt best practices. Singapore, Shenzhen, Seoul and Helsinki demonstrate how data-driven city models work. International cooperation helps accelerate the implementation of technologies under the methodology and avoid mistakes.”
The image was created using AI and is for illustrative purposes only.
What makes the INTEGRA CITY platform unique in the context of the methodology?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “The universal INTEGRA CITY solution is fully synchronized with the goals, key principles and main areas of the Smart City methodology. The platform combines tools for managing urban processes of any scale, operates on the basis of artificial intelligence and ensures the digitalization of all services. The Smart and Safe City concept creates an intelligent network that unites energy, transport, safety and city services, making cities more reliable, comfortable and sustainable.”
The image was created using AI and is for illustrative purposes only.
What will a Kazakhstan city look like in five years under the Smart City methodology?
INTEGRA CITY expert: “In several years, Kazakhstan’s cities will look and function differently. They will become more resilient, convenient and open in governance. The methodology allows digital infrastructure to be built from the start: sensors, analytics and urban-tech integration mechanisms. At the same time, engineering infrastructure is also developing in Kazakhstan: roads, transport hubs, utility networks and social facilities. This allows technologies to work as efficiently as possible and create sustainable, economical and convenient cities for residents.”
Thus, the new Smart City methodology is not simply a set of rules and technologies. It is a clear guideline for all cities in Kazakhstan, helping create a reliable, comfortable and transparent urban environment where digital solutions genuinely work for people. The methodology sets unified standards and key principles, synchronizing digital and physical processes and opening the way for the implementation of advanced practices from global technology leaders. In the coming years, cities will be able to put these ideas into practice, transforming the smart city from a concept into an everyday reality for every resident.