A pilot project for drone-based goods delivery is set to launch in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan and the private company Freedom Lifestyle.
According to the ministry, the agreement outlines plans to jointly test drone delivery services in urban settings, with an emphasis on safety, regulatory compliance, and public convenience. Freedom Lifestyle will finance and implement the project, integrating unmanned delivery into its digital platforms. Since early 2025, the company has been building a team of drone operators and testing technology at its Freedom X R&D laboratory.
The ministry will focus on developing regulatory frameworks, ensuring aviation safety, and facilitating the integration of drone technology into the urban infrastructure. Gizzat Baitursynov, Chairman of the Committee on Digital Assets and Breakthrough Technologies, stated that the pilot phase will help test the system in real-world conditions and inform the creation of long-term regulatory solutions.
The pilot will involve drone delivery of food, daily necessities, and medicines. Each drone will be capable of carrying up to 10 kilograms over a 3-kilometer radius between locations in the upper and central parts of the city. Flights are scheduled to take place during daylight hours and in favorable weather.
To minimize risks, drones will operate primarily over green zones and along designated street corridors. Each vehicle is equipped with safety systems, including parachutes and autonomous control in case of communication loss. As the system’s safety and efficiency are validated, the number of drones and service coverage will be expanded, including potential rollouts in rural areas.
Kazakhstan has already seen increasing adoption of drone technologies. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, unmanned systems are currently used for agricultural land monitoring and are being developed for public safety applications.
