On September 25–26, Baku hosted the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026), bringing together business leaders, government officials, representatives of international organizations, financial institutions and investment funds from around the world.
Held under the patronage of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the forum was organized by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO). This year’s theme was “Restoring Trust in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar of Global Connectivity and Investment Stability.”
The development of Sea Breeze was among the key topics discussed at the forum. Emin Agalarov, founder of the resort city, took part in the panel discussion “New Investment Frontiers: Real Estate, Tourism and Urban Development,” where he presented Sea Breeze Azerbaijan to international investment funds and outlined the project’s long-term vision.
Only 10–15% of the original vision for Sea Breeze has been realized so far. The project’s main development phase is expected to continue for another seven to eight years. According to Emin Agalarov, Sea Breeze is among the top ten investment opportunities with strong long-term potential.
“When we first started, we were selling square meters at Sea Breeze. That concept has now changed. We are no longer selling square meters; we are selling a lifestyle. This model can be applied in other regions and at a different scale. Sea Breeze has the potential to become a safe, new, dynamic and modern city where golf carts replace cars and green energy is part of everyday life. There are very few new cities in the world that have been built from the ground up. Azerbaijan is ready for branded residences, and we believe that any brand can become part of our project,” said Emin Agalarov.
Sea Breeze’s investment model was also presented at the forum by Ena-Camellia Melikova, Director of Sales. She outlined the concept of a “city within a city,” where residential neighborhoods are being developed alongside hotels, retail and commercial spaces, schools, leisure facilities and other elements of urban infrastructure.
Anar Guliyev continued the discussion, highlighting the role of Sea Breeze in Baku’s broader urban development.
“Baku is also creating new areas for growth, expanding the city’s economic and urban development potential. Sea Breeze is an example of how large-scale, integrated development can contribute to modern urban infrastructure and create a new destination on the Caspian coast,” said Anar Guliyev.
Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, placed Sea Breeze in a broader international tourism context.
“It is important to understand that Sea Breeze is more than a national development project. It is an international, integrated resort on the Caspian coast, bringing together the atmosphere of Baku and a wide range of contemporary leisure and tourism opportunities within one large-scale destination,” said Florian Sengstschmid.
The discussion around Sea Breeze formed part of the broader AIIF 2026 agenda, which focused on the future of Azerbaijan’s economy and the role private capital can play in its continued development.
The forum opened with an address from President Ilham Aliyev, delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov. One of the key priorities highlighted was further economic diversification. Since 2020, real GDP in the non-oil sector has grown by an average of 5% annually, while non-oil industrial output has increased 1.5 times and exports have nearly doubled. In 2025, the non-oil sector accounted for 72% of Azerbaijan’s GDP.
“Our approach to investment goes beyond attracting capital. We value technology, expertise, innovation and access to new markets, and we seek partnerships that create long-term value for investors while supporting the modernization and competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s economy,” the President said in his address.
Over the past 20 years, Azerbaijan has attracted more than $350 billion in investment, with foreign direct investment accounting for approximately half of that amount. Tourism and infrastructure were among the sectors specifically identified as having significant potential for new investment.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov also emphasized economic diversification and the role of private business. Another priority is to turn the country’s transport corridors into economic corridors, creating new projects and investment opportunities around the movement of goods. A key indicator of growing confidence in the market, the minister noted, is that foreign companies are increasingly retaining profits generated in Azerbaijan and reinvesting them locally.
As a result of AIIF 2026, 23 agreements and other investment documents were signed, covering projects worth a total of $10.8 billion across construction, energy, the digital economy, industry and other sectors.
Sea Breeze was a partner of the forum and presented its key developments at a dedicated exhibition stand. Architectural models of Halfmoon and Caspian Dream Liner were on display, while visitors could explore the entire resort city through an interactive 3D tour. Developed in collaboration with international agency Fortes Vision, the experience was based on Sea Breeze’s digital twin.
The scale of the project is best illustrated by the numbers. Sea Breeze’s master plan covers 1,850 hectares and 22 kilometers of Caspian Sea coastline. More than 1,000 hectares are already under development, with over 3.5 million square meters of residential and commercial real estate in the pipeline and under development. The long-term plan envisions more than 30 million square meters.
The relationship between AIIF and Sea Breeze goes back several years. The first forum was held in September 2025 at the resort city with Sea Breeze providing organizational support. Investment agreements worth more than $10 billion were signed during the event, with more than $7 billion allocated to the non-oil sector.
Held under the patronage of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the forum was organized by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO). This year’s theme was “Restoring Trust in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar of Global Connectivity and Investment Stability.”
The development of Sea Breeze was among the key topics discussed at the forum. Emin Agalarov, founder of the resort city, took part in the panel discussion “New Investment Frontiers: Real Estate, Tourism and Urban Development,” where he presented Sea Breeze Azerbaijan to international investment funds and outlined the project’s long-term vision.
Only 10–15% of the original vision for Sea Breeze has been realized so far. The project’s main development phase is expected to continue for another seven to eight years. According to Emin Agalarov, Sea Breeze is among the top ten investment opportunities with strong long-term potential.
“When we first started, we were selling square meters at Sea Breeze. That concept has now changed. We are no longer selling square meters; we are selling a lifestyle. This model can be applied in other regions and at a different scale. Sea Breeze has the potential to become a safe, new, dynamic and modern city where golf carts replace cars and green energy is part of everyday life. There are very few new cities in the world that have been built from the ground up. Azerbaijan is ready for branded residences, and we believe that any brand can become part of our project,” said Emin Agalarov.
Sea Breeze’s investment model was also presented at the forum by Ena-Camellia Melikova, Director of Sales. She outlined the concept of a “city within a city,” where residential neighborhoods are being developed alongside hotels, retail and commercial spaces, schools, leisure facilities and other elements of urban infrastructure.
Anar Guliyev continued the discussion, highlighting the role of Sea Breeze in Baku’s broader urban development.
“Baku is also creating new areas for growth, expanding the city’s economic and urban development potential. Sea Breeze is an example of how large-scale, integrated development can contribute to modern urban infrastructure and create a new destination on the Caspian coast,” said Anar Guliyev.
Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, placed Sea Breeze in a broader international tourism context.
“It is important to understand that Sea Breeze is more than a national development project. It is an international, integrated resort on the Caspian coast, bringing together the atmosphere of Baku and a wide range of contemporary leisure and tourism opportunities within one large-scale destination,” said Florian Sengstschmid.
The discussion around Sea Breeze formed part of the broader AIIF 2026 agenda, which focused on the future of Azerbaijan’s economy and the role private capital can play in its continued development.
The forum opened with an address from President Ilham Aliyev, delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov. One of the key priorities highlighted was further economic diversification. Since 2020, real GDP in the non-oil sector has grown by an average of 5% annually, while non-oil industrial output has increased 1.5 times and exports have nearly doubled. In 2025, the non-oil sector accounted for 72% of Azerbaijan’s GDP.
“Our approach to investment goes beyond attracting capital. We value technology, expertise, innovation and access to new markets, and we seek partnerships that create long-term value for investors while supporting the modernization and competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s economy,” the President said in his address.
Over the past 20 years, Azerbaijan has attracted more than $350 billion in investment, with foreign direct investment accounting for approximately half of that amount. Tourism and infrastructure were among the sectors specifically identified as having significant potential for new investment.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov also emphasized economic diversification and the role of private business. Another priority is to turn the country’s transport corridors into economic corridors, creating new projects and investment opportunities around the movement of goods. A key indicator of growing confidence in the market, the minister noted, is that foreign companies are increasingly retaining profits generated in Azerbaijan and reinvesting them locally.
As a result of AIIF 2026, 23 agreements and other investment documents were signed, covering projects worth a total of $10.8 billion across construction, energy, the digital economy, industry and other sectors.
Sea Breeze was a partner of the forum and presented its key developments at a dedicated exhibition stand. Architectural models of Halfmoon and Caspian Dream Liner were on display, while visitors could explore the entire resort city through an interactive 3D tour. Developed in collaboration with international agency Fortes Vision, the experience was based on Sea Breeze’s digital twin.
The scale of the project is best illustrated by the numbers. Sea Breeze’s master plan covers 1,850 hectares and 22 kilometers of Caspian Sea coastline. More than 1,000 hectares are already under development, with over 3.5 million square meters of residential and commercial real estate in the pipeline and under development. The long-term plan envisions more than 30 million square meters.
The relationship between AIIF and Sea Breeze goes back several years. The first forum was held in September 2025 at the resort city with Sea Breeze providing organizational support. Investment agreements worth more than $10 billion were signed during the event, with more than $7 billion allocated to the non-oil sector.