Kazakhstan to introduce English law in Alatau to protect businesses

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that Alatau, a new city near Almaty, will introduce a specialized judicial system based on English common law to handle commercial cases.

In an address to the nation, Tokayev noted that Alatau should be a zone favorable to investment and entrepreneurship. Ensuring effective administration of justice is essential to enhancing the appeal of this jurisdiction.

«A judicial system that ensures high-quality administration of justice should be established in Alatau. An investment court, based on the English common law model, will hear commercial cases. All other matters related to the special legal regime will fall under the jurisdiction of a civil court,» he said.

The president emphasized that the Constitution must protect the investment interests of all bona fide entrepreneurs. He instructed the government to prepare the necessary amendments to the law governing Alatau’s special legal regime by the end of January 2027. The Kurultai will then review the amendments.

What is an English-style court?

In Kazakhstan and many other countries, an English-style court applies common law principles that originated in England. Such a system relies not only on statutes but also on rulings from previous cases, also known as judicial precedents. It is widely used in international commercial practice because it offers predictable dispute resolution and well-developed mechanisms to protect investors’ rights.