Kazakhstan presents key infrastructure and technology projects in Abu Dhabi: AIFC strengthens strategic partnership with the UAE
On December 9, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), together with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Kazakhstan held the AIFC Connect: Abu Dhabi 2025 business event in Abu Dhabi. The event aimed to strengthen investment cooperation between two countries, present Kazakhstan’s high potential projects, and highlight the opportunities offered by Kazakhstan’s financial market and the AIFC financial ecosystem for foreign companies.
Today, the UAE ranks among the top ten foreign investors in Kazakhstan’s economy. Total investment from the UAE into Kazakhstan has exceeded 4.3 billion US dollars. There are 462 UAE companies operating in Kazakhstan. Several significant projects with Masdar, Presight, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and others demonstrate the dynamic partnership.
The event was organized in partnership with GWM Capital Ltd. and ITS, and was timed to align with Abu Dhabi Finance Week, one of the region’s key events focused on investment and finance in MENA. AIFC Connect brought together around 150 representatives of investment banks, financial, technology, and consulting firms, stock exchanges, regulators, asset managers, and other organizations.
Discussions focused on promising investment areas and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan, the AIFC’s potential for integrating the capital markets of Central Asia and the Gulf region, as well as key trends in fintech, innovation, and digital assets.
The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Ariqi.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates, Rauan Zhumabek, noted: «Both Kazakhstan and the UAE are “bridge countries.” We connect regions, markets, and cultures. We create unique opportunities for businesses and investors. This year, UAE investments in Kazakhstan showed impressive growth. They exceeded 1 billion US dollars. This is more than four times higher than last year. This positive trend is not just about numbers. It is a marker of the high trust our Emirati partners have in Kazakhstan. It signals that our investment climate is becoming increasingly attractive for major capital».
The role of the AIFC in expanding opportunities for foreign companies in Kazakhstan was highlighted by AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov: «We highly value Kazakhstan’s strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates, which in recent years has been growing steadily in sectors such as energy, logistics, finance, technology, and others. The AIFC serves as a reliable platform for structuring international transactions, implementing large infrastructure projects, and integrating financial markets, from AIX joining the Tabadul digital hub to the first dirham-denominated bond issuances in Kazakhstan. Today, 49 companies from the UAE are operating successfully in our jurisdiction, carrying out projects in finance and insurance, information and communication technologies, trade, transport, industry, and more. I am confident that our economic cooperation will continue to expand, creating new opportunities for business and supporting sustainable development in both countries».
Maryam Rashed Al Mazrouei, Head of Business Development (CIS) at Masdar, noted: «Kazakhstan offers tremendous potential for clean energy and low-carbon infrastructure, and Masdar values the opportunity to support this vision. Masdar is proud to deliver competitively priced clean power, integrating solar, wind and storage solutions that help relieve grid constraints, to provide our partners with the reliable capacity they need as demand rises. Today’s dialogue was a valuable chance to highlight the progress we are making together and explore new pathways for scalable, long-term investment across the region».
This year, the AIFC became one of the global leaders in implementing IOSCO international standards for digital asset regulation. Out of more than 130 IOSCO member jurisdictions, only 20 were selected for review. The AIFC demonstrated the highest level of progress among participants, fully implementing all ten of IOSCO’s priority recommendations.
Liya Akzhanova, Chief Legal Officer of AFSA: «The AFSA’s balanced approach – being supportive for innovation – this is the reason why AIFC is internationally recognised as a jurisdiction that successfully combines innovation with strong investors’ protection».
According to the GFCI 38 rating, the AIFC recognised as a leading financial centre in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. Since 2018, the AIFC has attracted $19.3 billion in investment to the Kazakh economy. More than 4800 companies from over 90 countries, including the US, UK, China, Turkiye, Singapore, the UAE, and other countries, are registered at the AIFC. Read more
Today, the UAE ranks among the top ten foreign investors in Kazakhstan’s economy. Total investment from the UAE into Kazakhstan has exceeded 4.3 billion US dollars. There are 462 UAE companies operating in Kazakhstan. Several significant projects with Masdar, Presight, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and others demonstrate the dynamic partnership.
The event was organized in partnership with GWM Capital Ltd. and ITS, and was timed to align with Abu Dhabi Finance Week, one of the region’s key events focused on investment and finance in MENA. AIFC Connect brought together around 150 representatives of investment banks, financial, technology, and consulting firms, stock exchanges, regulators, asset managers, and other organizations.
Discussions focused on promising investment areas and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan, the AIFC’s potential for integrating the capital markets of Central Asia and the Gulf region, as well as key trends in fintech, innovation, and digital assets.
The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Ariqi.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates, Rauan Zhumabek, noted: «Both Kazakhstan and the UAE are “bridge countries.” We connect regions, markets, and cultures. We create unique opportunities for businesses and investors. This year, UAE investments in Kazakhstan showed impressive growth. They exceeded 1 billion US dollars. This is more than four times higher than last year. This positive trend is not just about numbers. It is a marker of the high trust our Emirati partners have in Kazakhstan. It signals that our investment climate is becoming increasingly attractive for major capital».
The role of the AIFC in expanding opportunities for foreign companies in Kazakhstan was highlighted by AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov: «We highly value Kazakhstan’s strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates, which in recent years has been growing steadily in sectors such as energy, logistics, finance, technology, and others. The AIFC serves as a reliable platform for structuring international transactions, implementing large infrastructure projects, and integrating financial markets, from AIX joining the Tabadul digital hub to the first dirham-denominated bond issuances in Kazakhstan. Today, 49 companies from the UAE are operating successfully in our jurisdiction, carrying out projects in finance and insurance, information and communication technologies, trade, transport, industry, and more. I am confident that our economic cooperation will continue to expand, creating new opportunities for business and supporting sustainable development in both countries».
Maryam Rashed Al Mazrouei, Head of Business Development (CIS) at Masdar, noted: «Kazakhstan offers tremendous potential for clean energy and low-carbon infrastructure, and Masdar values the opportunity to support this vision. Masdar is proud to deliver competitively priced clean power, integrating solar, wind and storage solutions that help relieve grid constraints, to provide our partners with the reliable capacity they need as demand rises. Today’s dialogue was a valuable chance to highlight the progress we are making together and explore new pathways for scalable, long-term investment across the region».
This year, the AIFC became one of the global leaders in implementing IOSCO international standards for digital asset regulation. Out of more than 130 IOSCO member jurisdictions, only 20 were selected for review. The AIFC demonstrated the highest level of progress among participants, fully implementing all ten of IOSCO’s priority recommendations.
Liya Akzhanova, Chief Legal Officer of AFSA: «The AFSA’s balanced approach – being supportive for innovation – this is the reason why AIFC is internationally recognised as a jurisdiction that successfully combines innovation with strong investors’ protection».
According to the GFCI 38 rating, the AIFC recognised as a leading financial centre in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. Since 2018, the AIFC has attracted $19.3 billion in investment to the Kazakh economy. More than 4800 companies from over 90 countries, including the US, UK, China, Turkiye, Singapore, the UAE, and other countries, are registered at the AIFC. Read more