Baku's first international real estate expo showcases Azerbaijan's tech-driven urban future
Azerbaijan hosted its first international real estate exhibition in Baku this week, drawing developers and investors from across the region as the country pursues large-scale urban expansion and reconstruction.
AIREX 2026 examined the country's property market and the challenges facing a sector increasingly shaped by technology, sustainability and changing urban needs.
AIREX organiser Riad Salayev said the aim was to attract more key players from the region and more international participants and investors to the exhibition.
Azerbaijan continues to invest in urban development. Baku is undergoing major changes, while reconstruction in Karabakh is creating demand for new homes and public infrastructure. For new neighbourhoods to work, housing must go hand in hand with schools, healthcare, transport and other essential services, a point emphasised at the exhibition.
Jamshid Amirov, Chief of Staff of Azerbaijan's State Housing Development Agency (MIDA), said the agency had launched 20 projects to help citizens buy homes on preferential terms. Seven projects are in Baku, three in Karabakh and ten in other regions, he said. The developments also include schools, kindergartens and a medical centre.
Amirov said 11 affordable housing projects have been completed so far, including five in Baku and six in the regions. Three additional projects are currently being implemented, with three more residential complexes in the design phase.
Elchin Gadimov, Chief Commercial Officer of PASHA Real Estate Group and CEO of International Projects, said his sector was moving towards capital efficiency, customer experience, international demand and long-term asset value. It was becoming increasingly data-driven, predictive and customer-centric, he said.
Gadimov explained that with advancements in AI, developers can now use a simple photograph to visualise a proposed project without expensive rendering software or specialised equipment. What once required significant time, technical expertise and financial resources can now be explored in minutes, helping teams test ideas earlier.
International architecture practice Chapman Taylor has worked on master-planning projects in Shusha and Jabrayil, as well as districts in Aghdam and Fuzuli. Its work in Fuzuli also includes a hospital and a vocational school.
Chapman Taylor Group Board Director Marcelina Zielinska said that successful urban development required more than designing individual buildings. Planners must consider business, the economy, location, climate and community, she said.
Alikhan Aliyev, Director of Kazakhstan-based BI Group in Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of residents' experience. The company's priorities, he said, include architecture, comfort, safety and residents' quality of life.
Tarik Imam, founder of Kinglike Luxury, which operates in Georgia and Türkiye, described Baku as an emerging destination for international real estate investment, pointing to its visionary developments and strong growth potential. Lina Buziashvili, Chief Commercial Officer of Georgian developer Silk Development, said AIREX offered an opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and connect with investors.
Meekail Haleem, Acting Head of the Hospitality Section at the Maldives' state-owned Housing Development Corporation, presented plans for a cruise terminal and waterfront commercial district in Hulhumalé, as well as the proposed tourism destination Kudagiri Falhu. The projects are intended to broaden the country's tourism and commercial offerings, with joint ventures and international partnerships helping to bring the developments forward, he said.
At Sea Breeze in Azerbaijan, Digital Residence is developing a model that combines AI-powered services with intelligent building management. Its CEO and co-founder Denys Rudnyk said the next step was IT Hub Sea Breeze, which aims to attract international technology companies, start-ups and digital entrepreneurs. He also pointed to government incentives, including 20-year tax exemptions for eligible technology park residents.
AIREX provided an opportunity to examine different approaches to property development, from affordable housing and urban planning to digital services and tourism infrastructure. For Azerbaijan, the task ahead is to turn investment into places that serve the people who live there, including homes, services, transport and public spaces that make neighbourhoods work.
