Aze.US Azerbaijan received 1.80 million foreign visitors for tourism in 2025, a modest 2.7% decline from a year earlier.. Behind the near-stable headline figure, however, the structure of arrivals changed markedly-both by age group and by country of origin. The most visible shift occurred in visitor demographics. Arrivals of travelers under 17 fell 6.2%, while … Read more
Aze.US The South Caucasus may be entering a rare period of strategic economic opportunity following recent high-level U.S. engagement in the region, Azerbaijani economist Natig Jafarli said in a televised discussion, while warning that internal reforms – not foreign funding – will ultimately determine the outcome. Jafarli described the diplomatic momentum as comparable in scale, … Read more
Aze.US Azerbaijani lawmakers have proposed drafting a comprehensive law to regulate the advance and fair compensation of property owners whose real estate is demolished for state or public needs, amid ongoing legal disputes linked to urban redevelopment projects. Member of parliament Nurlan Hasanov said the proposed legislation should clearly define the authority of decision-making bodies, … Read more
Aze.US Azerbaijan has introduced amendments to property registration procedures aimed at resolving discrepancies between ownership documents and cadastral records, a long-standing issue affecting hundreds of thousands of residential properties. Officials estimate that around 500,000 homes in Baku lack full documentation, with mismatches between land designation in legal papers and cadastral classification frequently preventing formal registration … Read more
Aze.US Azerbaijan will begin paying temporary disability benefits in full to all insured employees starting in May 2026, following amendments approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The payment, commonly referred to as sick leave compensation, was previously calculated based on an employee’s insurance record and could amount to 60%, 80% or 100% of wages. Under … Read more
Aze.US Azerbaijani economist Natig Jafarli has sharply criticized the country’s tax policy and banking practices, arguing that excessive tax pressure and pre-emptive account freezes are pushing citizens and small businesses toward informal financial transactions. Jafarli said that in cases of suspected illegal transfers, authorities and banks often block accounts before completing an investigation, a sequence … Read more
Aze.US Azerbaijan’s vehicle scrappage program has processed more than 20,000 cars since its launch, yet many drivers still refuse to participate, citing compensation of just 1,000–1,500 manat-far below the cost of purchasing another vehicle. Thousands of cars that have effectively reached the end of their service life continue to circulate on Azerbaijan’s roads, many with … Read more
Aze.US Taxi drivers in Baku report growing difficulty finding legal places to stop and pick up passengers, highlighting infrastructure pressures as ride demand and the number of operating taxis continue to increase across the city. Drivers say designated taxi stands are often occupied by private vehicles, forcing them to stop elsewhere and risk fines or … Read more
Aze,US A controversy has emerged around Azerbaijan’s digital wallet platform m10 after users reported unexplained incoming funds and temporary account restrictions, while no official figures or confirmed investigation results have been disclosed so far. m10 is a rapidly growing electronic wallet operated by PashaPay, a fintech company fully owned by Kapital Bank. In recent years, … Read more
Aze.US Proposed restrictions on vehicles older than six years could disrupt regional transit routes and reshape supply flows. Tbilisi is preparing to tighten regulations on automobile imports, a move that could have direct consequences for Azerbaijan’s car market. Under the proposed initiative, the import and initial registration of passenger vehicles older than six years may … Read more