AIFC strengthens investment dialogue between Kazakhstan and the UAE

On 1 October 2026, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC, the Centre), in cooperation with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Republic of Kazakhstan, held the UAE-Kazakhstan Business and Investment Roundtable «Advancing Investment and Economic Cooperation». The event focused on expanding business and investment ties between Kazakhstan and the UAE, discussing prospects for cooperation and establishing contacts between the business communities of the two countries.

The roundtable brought together representatives of more than 30 organisations from Kazakhstan and the UAE, including government agencies, national and quasi-government companies, and leading private-sector companies. Participants from Kazakhstan included representatives of the national companies KazMunayGas and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Baiterek National Investment Holding, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Samruk-Energy, KEGOC, Kazakh Invest, KIDF, Semurg Invest, Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions (CIMS), Caspian Port Development Company, White Hill Capital and other organisations. The UAE side was represented by leading companies in energy, infrastructure, logistics and extractive industries, including AMEA Power, Masdar, AIQ, Emirates Minting, ADP, Etihad Rail International, Etihad Water and Electricity, Lulu Retail Holdings, International Resources Holding, Metito Utilities and others.

The business programme was opened by Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, and Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC.

The AIFC Governor  Renat Bekturov noted: «The strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the UAE continues to create new opportunities for investment and business cooperation each year. The AIFC plays an important role in strengthening these ties by regularly connecting companies, investors and financial institutions from both countries. The Centre provides a reliable platform for structuring international transactions, delivering major infrastructure projects and supporting greater integration between financial markets».

Practical outcomes of this engagement include the registration within the AIFC of Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions, a joint venture established as part of the development of the Middle Corridor, and of Presight AI Kazakhstan, a technology company implementing major digital projects in Kazakhstan. Key milestones in financial cooperation include the accession of the Astana International Exchange (AIX) to the Tabadul Digital Exchange Hub and the launch of a direct link between the central securities depositories of Nasdaq Dubai and AIX, among other projects. The Eurasian Development Bank also completed its debut placement of UAE dirham-denominated bonds on AIX, becoming the first issuer of bonds in this currency in Kazakhstan.

During the roundtable, the parties discussed promising investment areas and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan, the AIFC’s role in developing and integrating capital markets, and opportunities to implement joint initiatives in renewable energy, infrastructure, trade and construction.

Participants noted that the AIFC’s regulatory framework and legal regime give investors confidence in the protection of their capital. The Centre also provides the financial infrastructure required to launch large-scale cross-border projects.

Maryam Rashed Al Mazrouei, Head of Business Development (CIS) at Masdar, noted:

«Investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE is developing dynamically, with the implementation of major projects being an important part of this partnership. Kazakhstan has become an important market for Masdar: we are developing one of the largest wind energy projects in the country, a 1 GW wind power plant in the Zhambyl Region. The project is being implemented jointly with Samruk-Kazyna and a number of other partners. We have also signed an agreement with Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan to develop an innovative Round-the-Clock energy system based on renewable energy sources. We are interested in further expanding our presence in Kazakhstan and developing new projects that will bring benefits to both sides».

In 2025, the UAE ranked among the top five investors in Kazakhstan, with foreign direct investment totalling US$1.6 billion. Over the past 20 years, cumulative investment from the UAE into Kazakhstan has exceeded US$7 billion.

Today, 50 companies from the UAE are registered within the AIFC ecosystem. They are implementing projects in finance and insurance, information and communication technologies, construction, trade, transport, manufacturing, mining and other sectors, and include Presight AI Kazakhstan Ltd., Otan Limited, Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions Ltd, Tayyab Central Asia Ltd, Ellington Group KAZ Ltd., MQ EMIRATES GROUP Ltd., AQ Management Limited and others. The AIFC provides companies with the infrastructure to structure transactions, raise capital and implement projects in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

In 2024 and 2025, the AIFC held a series of AIFC Connect events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, bringing together representatives of investment banks, financial companies, stock exchanges, regulators and other organisations from the UAE.

The roundtable marked a further step in the consistent development of investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE through the Centre’s platform.

Reference:

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and business meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law. www.aifc.kz    

AIFC Press Office,

Ainur Issabayeva, press secretary

E-mail: [email protected]