East Kazakhstan Time (Almaty)

East Kazakhstan Time (ALMT) is UTC+6, covering the eastern and most populated regions of Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country and ninth-largest overall. Kazakhstan abolished DST in 2005. In March 2024, Kazakhstan unified its two time zones (UTC+5 in the west and UTC+6 in the east) into a single UTC+5 zone, though this was reversed back due to public backlash, and the eastern regions returned to UTC+6. Almaty, the former capital and largest city, is a major financial center nestled at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains. The Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) operates from Almaty on ALMT. Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) has been the capital since 1997 and features futuristic architecture designed by Foster + Partners and other starchitects. Kazakhstan's economy is driven by oil, uranium (it is the world's largest producer), and minerals. The country plays a crucial role in China's Belt and Road Initiative as a transit corridor between China and Europe. Kazakhstan's timezone places it between Russia to the north and the Central Asian states, facilitating regional trade within the Eurasian Economic Union.