Abulmansur spent his childhood and part of his youth in exile, spending many years near present-day Burabay on the northern borders of the Kazakh Khanate.

After losing his father to political rivals at the age of thirteen, Abulmansur moved back south towards present-day Kyzylorda.

In the first half of the 18th century, Ablai Khan proved to be a talented organizer and commander as he headed detachments of the Kazakh militia during the Kazakh-Dzungar Wars.

Ablai's talent in playing China against Russia gradually made him the unrivaled Khan of the steppe.

In contrast to Ablai, other khans and sultans had been competing for the lavish gifts and stipends of the Emperors of Russia in return for their submission.

Ablai Khan refused to bow down to the expanding Russian Empire and instead chose to strengthen the Kazakhs by promoting Islam and the concept of jihad throughout the state as an effort to resist foreign powers.

However, once Amursana and Dawachi were no longer allies, Ablai Khan took the opportunity to capture herds and territory from the Dzungars.

[4] During Amursana's rebellion against the Qing in 1755-56, Ablai Khan offered him sanctuary at one point and refused to hand him over despite the threat of a raid on his territory.