There are rich deposits of oil and gas in Atyrau oblast of Kazakhstan. High-quality oil in small quantities has been extracted from Emba oil field since 1911. There are oil pipelines to Atyrau city, the capital, from Mangyshlak oil fields located to the south.

The oblast is also rich in various natural deposits: clay for brick production; potassium salt; sand; gypsum; common salt; limestone and chalk.

Ural-Caspian fishery district is the leading one among inner water reservoirs of the Kazakhstan Republic. Fishery development is favored by precious sturgeon fishes in the river Ural and Caspian Sea which make it possible to export fish and caviar. The close Caspian Sea promotes such industries as fishing, navigation, fish-processing.

Agriculture, severely handicapped by lack of fresh water, is concerned mainly with sheep raising on the extensive desert pastures. Mining is the main industry of Atyrau oblast economics.