Alikhan Smailov was born in 1972 in Almaty.

In 1994 he graduated from the Al-Farabi Kazakh State National University with a major in applied mathematics.

In 1996 he graduated from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research under the President of Kazakhstan, receiving the master's degree in public administration.

In 1993–1999 he worked as a chief specialist in A-Invest investment and privatization fund, deputy head of department, head of department of the National Statistical Agency of Kazakhstan, deputy chairman of the Committee for Statistics and Analysis of the Agency for Statistical Planning and Reforms, chief expert, head of the economic sector of the department, state inspector of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan.

1999–2003 he was chairman of the Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2003–2006 he was vice minister of foreign affairs, chairman of the State Insurance Company for the Insurance of Export Credits and Investments JSC.

2006–2009 he was vice minister of finance, President of KazAgro National Holding.

2009–2014 he was chairman of the Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2014–2015 he was chairman of the Committee on Statistics of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan.

2015–2018 he was assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From September 2018 to February 2019 he was minister of finance.

On Feb. 25, 2019, by the Decree of the President, was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Finance. On Jan. 18, 2021, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he was reappointed to this position.

On January 11, 2022, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On March 30, 2023, by Presidential Decree, he was reappointed to the post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.