Abay is a town located in central Kazakhstan, and has served as the capital of Abay District in Karaganda Region since 2002. Population: …Abay is a town located in central Kazakhstan, and has served as the capital of Abay District in Karaganda Region since 2002. Population: 25,550 ; 33,066. Abay was founded in 1949 as a coal mining settlement with the name Sherubay-Noora. In 1961, it was renamed Abay, after Abay Qunanbayuli, a Kazakh poet, composer and philosopher.