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Arbuz.kz expands drone-powered deliveries to Shymkent in 2026

From Almaty's skies to Shymkent's streets—how a $2M robotics bet is rewriting grocery delivery. Will couriers soon be obsolete?

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1 min read
The image shows a crowd of people walking through a bustling bazaar, with stalls on either side of...
The image shows a crowd of people walking through a bustling bazaar, with stalls on either side of the road filled with items such as clothes, balloons, and other objects. In the background, there are vehicles and buildings, adding to the bustling atmosphere of the market.

Arbuz.kz expands drone-powered deliveries to Shymkent in 2026

Arbuz.kz, the supermarket chain owned by Freedom Holding Corp., is expanding its delivery services to Shymkent. The announcement came from CEO Timur Turlov at the Digital Kazakhstan forum in late March 2026. This marks the company's fourth city launch after Almaty, Astana, and Karaganda. Over the past 18 months, Arbuz.kz has opened accounts for around 5 million clients within the Freedom ecosystem. Most of these users come from regional areas rather than major cities. Turlov has previously noted that investing in these regions can be more profitable over time if managed well.

The company has been testing drone deliveries in Almaty since 2025. These drones can carry goods weighing up to 10 kg within a 3 km radius, completing deliveries in roughly 8-10 minutes. The technology is being developed by Freedom X, a lab created in partnership with Nazarbayev University.

Freedom plans to invest at least $2 million in its robotics lab by 2026. The funding will also go towards expanding its drone fleet. Turlov predicts that unmanned deliveries will eventually replace traditional couriers, making the entire process automated.

Arbuz.kz operates as part of Freedom Holding Corp.'s wider network, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, insurance firms, a telecom operator, a travel service, and a ticketing platform. The company's growth reflects its strategy of integrating digital services across multiple sectors. The launch in Shymkent follows successful expansions in three other Kazakh cities. With drone technology advancing and regional demand growing, Arbuz.kz is positioning itself for further scaling. The company's investment in automation suggests a shift toward faster, more efficient delivery systems in the coming years.

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