Abstract
The study focuses on urban identity, examining its social and spatial components. The phenomenon is explored from cognitive, emotional, and behavioral perspectives. The study's uniqueness lies in its emphasis on two crucial aspects of the urban identity concept. First, it investigates this phenomenon's structure, framework, and common elements. This approach seeks to identify stable variables with the potential for replication in different territorial contexts - various cities. Additionally, the second strand of the research focuses on the content of urban identity - its uniqueness, character, and distinctive features - using the example of a Central Asian city, Almaty. Thus, the study aims to generate material that provides insight into the city and the urban identity of its residents. Such data can be useful for numerous applied urban fields, ranging from administrative and managerial decision-making to tactical and strategic planning in shaping cultural urban development policies. Having up-to-date data enables the correct formulation of urban development strategies. On the other hand, the scientific significance of the study lies in its aim to identify the universal framework and components of the phenomenon of urban identity. Keywords: urban identity, identity structure, Almaty, temporal perspective, social mapping, mental mapping, city perception.