July 15, 2025 – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Azerbaijani singer and businessman Emin Agalarov, founder of the Sea Breeze brand, joined Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov to promote the upcoming Sea Breeze Uzbekistan project on the shores of Charvak Lake — a development expected to cost $5 billion.
The ambitious resort project was first presented to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in late 2024 and is set to span up to 700 hectares. Plans include luxury hotels, vacation homes, schools, shopping districts, an aquapark, and eco-friendly infrastructure such as solar-paneled buildings and palm-lined walkways. Officials say the complex will transform the Charvak area into a resort town and create a new standard for regional tourism.
“We want to build something structured and sustainable — not chaotic,” Agalarov said, emphasizing that the Baku-based Sea Breeze complex served as inspiration. “President Mirziyoyev recommended Charvak, and I was impressed by its beauty.”
Agalarov added that the energy systems will be solar-powered and the project will feature green landscaping initiatives.
Yet, while Uzbek authorities are rolling out the red carpet for the multimillion-dollar venture, critics in Azerbaijan are raising concerns about capital flight and national priorities. Many are questioning why such vast private resources are being funneled into a foreign project while pressing social and infrastructure problems persist inside Azerbaijan.
“Billions are being invested to build a luxury resort in another country, while schools in rural Azerbaijan are crumbling, hospitals remain under-equipped, and thousands of internally displaced families still lack adequate housing,” said one Baku-based analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It raises real questions about national responsibility, economic fairness, and where our elite’s priorities lie.”
This is not the first time Azerbaijan’s wealthy class has faced scrutiny for overseas investments perceived as disconnected from the country’s internal needs. The Sea Breeze Charvak project has only reignited that debate.
Meanwhile, Minister Abdukhakimov confirmed that his ministry had dispatched a team to study the Sea Breeze model in Baku, praising its ecological standards and architectural vision.
Whether the Charvak resort becomes a beacon of regional cooperation or a lightning rod for domestic criticism — the coming months may determine how the project is remembered.
