Construction Has Started on a Major New Ski Resort Above Almaty - and It's Just the Beginning

Construction has started on Almaty Superski, a new mountain resort in the Tien Shan range above Kazakhstan's largest city of Almaty.

The project has been a long time coming. The idea of developing the Kok-Zhailau tract above Almaty has been discussed since the early 2000s, and a previous attempt in 2018-2019 was suspended following significant public opposition over environmental concerns. This time, with the master plan approved by Kazakhstan's Board of Directors for Kazakh Tourism Development in September 2025 - at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov - and state financing confirmed, the project has moved from planning into the ground.

The resort is targeting a December 2028 opening, though authorities have indicated late 2028 or early 2029 as the expected window.

Who is building it

The lift infrastructure contract has gone to French manufacturer POMA, which will build 11 cableways at the resort. The lineup includes 3S gondolas, 10-seat gondola lifts, and chairlifts. POMA is one of the dominant players in Alpine lift construction globally, with a portfolio across Europe and North America.

The resort's architecture has been designed by Foster + Partners, the firm behind some of the more recognisable contemporary structures worldwide. Their concept centres on modern mass timber construction - an approach intended to give the resort a natural aesthetic suited to its mountain setting. Canadian firm StructureCraft, a specialist in large-scale timber engineering, has been appointed to deliver those structures.

The master plan itself was developed by Pas Grau International (PGI), an Andorran planning firm that has been operating since 1957 and has worked on projects including Courchevel, Ischgl, Vail, Aspen, and Whistler Blackcomb.

Financing is being provided by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of state-owned holding company Baiterek, which has been appointed as the responsible body for the project. Hotels will be built by private investors, while the state is funding the utility infrastructure.

The exact project cost has not been confirmed - it will be calculated once all engineering and environmental surveys are complete. For reference, an estimate from ten years ago put the figure at $430-440 million USD; authorities have acknowledged the final cost will be higher.

What Almaty Superski will look like at opening

The resort is planned across the Kok-Zhailau gorge and Kumbel Peak, covering approximately 1,000 hectares with around 60km of ski slopes across four difficulty levels. The terrain breakdown is weighted toward intermediate skiing, with blue runs accounting for just over half the total, red runs at around 23%, black runs at 16%, and green beginner terrain making up the remainder.

The resort will have 16 ski lifts and a daily capacity of up to 10,000 skiers. Approximately 70% of slopes will be covered by artificial snowmaking, including Snow Factory technology capable of producing snow at above-zero temperatures. A village of hotels and chalets with 6,500 beds is planned, with building heights capped at four storeys. The total commercial development area is approximately 20 hectares - a deliberate decision to keep the built footprint contained relative to the overall resort area.

One distinctive aspect of the project's stated philosophy is the absence of private villas and gated residences. Authorities have been explicit that the resort is intended for mass tourism, families, and beginner skiers rather than an elite clientele - with skiing expected to be offered at minimal or no cost for schoolchildren.

Getting there

Access to the resort will run through Medeu, the well-known speed skating venue on the outskirts of Almaty. A new cable car - with cabins accommodating around 40 people and running on just six support towers - will connect Medeu directly to Almaty Superski. From the same Medeu platform, connections to the existing Shymbulak resort and the Oi-Karagai resort will also be available. A separate ground transport route has been planned from the Big Almaty Gorge, restricted to public transport, taxis, and electric vehicles.

The resort sits approximately 20 minutes by road from central Almaty - a proximity that is central to the project's accessibility argument.

The bigger picture

Almaty Superski is one piece of a larger vision. The broader Almaty Mountain Cluster concept proposes connecting the new resort with existing ski areas including Shymbulak, Oi-Karagai, and Tabagan via new lifts and trails - creating an interconnected network spanning the mountain range above the city from east to west.

The scale of that broader ambition - covering multiple valleys and peaks across the range - would place it in a different category entirely from what is currently under construction. Whether and when that interconnected network takes shape remains to be seen. What is confirmed is that the first piece of it is now being built, with a globally credentialed design and construction team in place, state financing secured, and a 2028 target on the calendar.

Authorities expect the project to create around 5,000 jobs and strengthen Almaty's position as a destination for winter tourism. Public hearings on the environmental impact assessment are expected to follow as the project progresses.