UAE’s Presight to launch surveillance project in Astana this December

The United Arab Emirates-based company Presight is set to launch a new AI-powered surveillance system in Astana this December, the city’s mayor Zhenis Kassymbek announced during a meeting with residents.

«In line with the agreement, the company must complete this stage by the end of the year. In addition, more than 20,000 cameras will be installed on top of those already in place. We plan to finish in December and launch then,» Kassymbek said.

Presight’s office in Astana opened in May 2025. Earlier, the Sergek project, which had operated in the capital since 2017, was shut down, and all its infrastructure was transferred to the management of the Emirati company.

The new cameras will be capable of automatically detecting traffic violations — such as using a phone while driving, not wearing a seat belt, and stopping in unauthorized areas — as well as predicting potential threats, including mass brawls, the appearance of weapons, stray animals and illegal dumping. All of this, as envisioned by the developers, is intended to enhance public safety.

In response to a Kursiv.media inquiry, the city administration has stated that the total cost of the Presight project stands at 93.2 billion tenge (approximately $173 million). Of this amount, 53.5 billion tenge ($99.4 million) will be allocated for installing new cameras and upgrading existing infrastructure and 39.7 billion tenge ($73.7 million) for their maintenance over five years, through 2030. The administration emphasized that the project will be financed entirely by the international partner.

There are currently around 6,000 surveillance cameras operating in Astana. The Sergek system is also in use in 12 cities across Kazakhstan.