The Intelligent Almaty

Thirty-eighth in the inaugural BCG Intelligent Cities Index — and the clearest measure yet of what a Central Asian metropolis can become.

Almaty is gaining international recognition for the way it is embracing digital technologies to improve urban services and support a more connected city experience. In the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026 published by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Almaty ranked 38th among 61 cities across 39 countries, receiving an overall score of 62 out of 100. The city ranked ahead of several major international cities, including Jakarta, Rome, Milan, Melbourne, Delhi and São Paulo. The ranking is significant not simply because of Almaty’s position, but because of what it says about the city’s direction. BCG describes Almaty as an “emerging” intelligent city, reflecting a city where digital and AI-enabled solutions are developing and where technology is increasingly being connected with public services, urban management and economic activity. For Incredible Kazakhstan, the story is one of progress rather than perfection. Almaty is not being presented as having completed its transformation into a smart city. Instead, the BCG recognition highlights the foundations that are being built for a more digitally enabled future.

Measuring the Intelligence of a City

Measuring the Intelligence of a City

BCG’s approach to intelligent cities extends beyond the presence of technology. Its index examines how effectively cities use digital capabilities and artificial intelligence to deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses. The assessment covers five dimensions: outcomes, strategy, technology adoption, ways of working and enabling conditions. These include elements such as digital infrastructure, investment, skilled talent, innovation capacity and the ability of organisations to turn technology into practical urban solutions. This methodology provides a broader perspective on digital transformation. A city cannot become intelligent simply by installing more connected devices or introducing new applications. The real measure is whether technology contributes to more effective services, stronger economic opportunities and improved experiences for people living and working in the city. Almaty’s position in the index indicates that the city is making progress across this wider ecosystem.

Digital Government Becomes Part of Everyday Life

One of the most visible aspects of Kazakhstan’s digital transformation has been the expansion of electronic public services. At the national level, digitalisation has been used to make government services more accessible and efficient, including services related to education, healthcare, social protection and registration. Almaty is part of this broader transformation, with the city continuing to develop digital systems and platforms designed to make interaction with municipal authorities more convenient. The importance of such initiatives lies in their everyday impact. When applications, registrations, information requests and other administrative processes can increasingly be completed digitally, technology becomes less of a separate concept and more of an invisible layer supporting urban life. This gradual shift is an important component of Almaty’s smart-city development.

“The most important element of the smart-city movement is not technology itself, but what technology gives back to the people who live there.”

Artificial Intelligence Enters Urban Development

Artificial intelligence is also becoming increasingly important in Kazakhstan’s approach to digital development. At the national level, the country has identified AI as an important part of its ambition to strengthen its position as a digital hub in the Eurasian region. Government policy has also focused on developing AI capabilities, infrastructure and digital talent. For Almaty, this national direction creates opportunities to apply advanced technologies to urban challenges. AI can support areas such as data analysis, traffic management, public-service planning and the processing of large amounts of information. The value of these systems, however, depends on how responsibly and effectively they are implemented. This is why Almaty’s classification as an emerging intelligent city is particularly relevant. It reflects a stage of development in which technology adoption is growing while the city continues to strengthen the infrastructure, skills and systems needed to make these technologies work at scale.

Building the Foundations for a Digital City

An intelligent city requires more than sophisticated software. It needs reliable digital infrastructure, skilled professionals, investment, research capabilities and organisations capable of using data effectively. BCG’s index specifically considers these enabling conditions alongside technology adoption and outcomes. Almaty’s presence in the index therefore reflects a broader urban ecosystem rather than any single digital project. The city’s position within Kazakhstan’s economic and educational landscape gives it an important role in the country’s wider digital ambitions. As technology companies, universities, entrepreneurs and public institutions increasingly interact, Almaty has the potential to become an important environment for developing and applying new digital solutions. The growth of Kazakhstan’s national AI ecosystem further strengthens this opportunity.

Technology with a Human Purpose

The most important element of the smart-city movement is not technology itself, but the benefits technology can provide to people. BCG’s Intelligent Cities Index places strong emphasis on outcomes, examining whether digital capabilities translate into meaningful improvements for residents and businesses. For Almaty, this means that the next stage of development will be defined by how effectively digital solutions contribute to everyday urban priorities. Better access to services, more responsive public administration, improved mobility, stronger environmental management and new economic opportunities can all become part of the city’s digital transformation. This people- centred approach is important because intelligent- city development should complement the character of the city rather than replace it. Almaty remains a city shaped by its cultural identity, entrepreneurial energy, universities, businesses and extraordinary natural setting at the foot of the Tian Shan. Technology can strengthen these qualities when it is applied thoughtfully.

Almaty in a Changing Global Landscape

The global ranking places Almaty within a much larger international movement. London led BCG’s 2026 index with 85 points, followed by Dubai, New York City, Washington and Amsterdam. The comparison provides Almaty with an international benchmark while also highlighting the scale of the opportunity ahead. The world’s leading intelligent cities have spent years developing digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and technology-enabled public services. Almaty’s emerging status suggests that its transformation is still developing, but it is moving in a direction recognised by an international benchmark. That distinction makes the achievement particularly meaningful. The city does not need to imitate another metropolis to build a successful digital future. Its opportunity lies in developing solutions suited to Kazakhstan’s own economic, geographic and social context.

A New Chapter in Kazakhstan’s Digital Story

Almaty’s 38th-place position in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index is best understood as a recognition of progress and potential. The city has established a growing digital foundation, while Kazakhstan is simultaneously strengthening its national capabilities in artificial intelligence and digital development. Official government policy continues to emphasise digital transformation and the development of AI as important elements of the country’s future. For Almaty, the journey ahead will be about turning these foundations into increasingly useful, accessible and responsible urban solutions. The achievement is therefore not simply about becoming a higher-ranked city. It is about creating a city where innovation has a clear purpose: helping people access services more easily, supporting businesses and entrepreneurs, strengthening urban management and opening new opportunities for the next generation.