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Muslim business traveller's guide
Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, sits against the Tian Shan mountains in a Muslim-majority country, so much of the food is halal, mosques are plentiful (including the Almaty Central Mosque), and prayer is part of daily life. The city has a metro line, buses and an easy ride-hailing scene (Yandex Go and inDrive).
Getting in
Almaty International Airport (ALA)
• Yandex Go / inDrive — 20-40 min to the centre (cheapest and easiest)
• Airport bus / taxi — 30-50 min
Getting around
A single metro line plus extensive buses cover the city; ride-hailing is cheap and ubiquitous.
An Onay! card works on the metro and buses.
Use Yandex Go or inDrive for fair, app-set fares instead of flagging cars down.
Visa & entry
Money
Kazakhstani Tenge · KZT
Cards and contactless are widely accepted in the city (the Kaspi app is dominant); carry some cash for bazaars.
A tip of around 10% is appreciated in restaurants.
Connectivity
Beeline, Kcell/Activ and Tele2 SIMs at the airport and city stores
eSIM: Airalo and similar eSIMs cover Kazakhstan
Plug: Type C / F (European 2-pin) · 220V / 50Hz
Emergency
General: 112
Fire: 101
Safety
Kazakh & Central Asian cuisine
citywide · $-$$
halal
Beshbarmak, plov, lagman and manty — much of it halal in a Muslim-majority city.
Green Bazaar (Zelyony Bazar)
central Almaty · $
halal
Historic market for halal meat, horse sausage, dried fruit and nuts.
Halal-labelled restaurants
citywide · $-$$
look for halal signage
Many restaurants display halal certification; ask if unsure.
Almaty Central Mosque
central Almaty
The city's main mosque, with a large Friday congregation.
Mosques across the city
citywide
Numerous neighbourhood mosques serve the Muslim-majority population.
Kök-Töbe & the cable car
above the city
Hilltop views over Almaty and the mountains.
Shymbulak & Medeu
Tian Shan foothills
The famous high-altitude skating rink and a mountain resort, a short trip from the city.
Panfilov Park & Ascension Cathedral
central Almaty
A leafy central park and a landmark wooden cathedral.
Sources: https://visitalmaty.kz · https://www.gov.kz (visa info)