Serious traffic congestion hit Astana on November 5, caused by the arrival of high-ranking foreign guests and presidents of several countries, as well as the summit of the Aqaba Process with heads of state participating, reports infohub.kz.

Residents are sharing footage and videos on social media, openly expressing frustration: many take two to three hours to get home. Some passengers are getting off buses and continuing on foot.

"We've been standing still for 40 minutes already! But the motorcades keep racing back and forth across the bridge!" one Astana resident was quoted as saying in posts. Another notes: "The traffic jam on Akbulak is so insane that we got out and are walking."

Capital residents point to the systemic nature of the problem: "Every time another delegation arrives, traffic just comes to a standstill. That would be all right—international ties are good—but not at the expense of people... It's rush hour, the bus is packed, the traffic isn't moving at all, the driver won't open the doors, and people in this stuffiness are simply losing patience."

On social media, residents are exchanging "records" of endurance: "Let's share records—who stood in traffic for how long. I'll start—2.5 hours." Questions are also being raised about traffic management: "Someone please explain to me! Why close the roads at 6 p.m., two hours (TWO!!! HOURS!!! I timed it) before the motorcade and hold everyone up?"

Another resident writes: "Every time kings and presidents of other countries fly in, I think I should have taken a bicycle. Anyway, I was late picking up my child from school today."

Some Astana residents thank their lucky stars for the convenient location of home and work: "On days like this, I thank Allah once again that I live and work on the left bank. Moreover, I live on Mangilik El—one of the main streets of Astana, where all high-ranking guests pass through. I don't even need transport; everything is nearby, I can walk calmly. But I sincerely feel sorry for everyone who is standing in traffic jams for hours today. Even we pedestrians sometimes have to wait for motorcades to pass. In short, today in Astana everyone needs patience."

Earlier, residents and guests of the capital were warned about temporary restrictions on vehicle movement in the city, as well as military aviation flights. It was reported that due to the preparation and holding of a number of international political events in Astana on November 5–7, 2026, temporary restrictions on vehicle movement will be introduced on certain sections of the capital's streets.

Later it became known that on November 5, the King of Jordan and the President of Tajikistan would arrive in Kazakhstan at the invitation of Qasym-Jomart Toqaev. We already reported today that Toqaev met King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan at Astana airport. A little later, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan also arrived in Astana.