Vusal Huseynov, head of Azerbaijan’s State Migration Service, has said that the number of visitors from Gulf countries to Azerbaijan declined significantly, contributing to an overall drop in international arrivals during the first half of 2026.

A total of 1,091,865 entries by citizens of 192 countries were registered in Azerbaijan during the first six months of the year, The Caspian Post reports via APA.

Speaking during a media tour focused on media awareness in migration, Huseynov said the largest numbers of visitors came from Russia, Türkiye, Georgia, Iran and Kazakhstan.

At the same time, Azerbaijan recorded a sharp decline in arrivals from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, India and other South Asian countries.

Huseynov said the overall figure was approximately 10% lower than during the same period in 2025, but stressed that the decline was not evenly distributed across all markets.

“The main reason was the reduction in flows from the Persian Gulf countries and the South Asian region, as well as the impact of military and political developments taking place in the region,” he said.

Despite the overall decrease, Azerbaijan has seen growth in arrivals from several other markets, particularly European countries and Turkic states such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Huseynov emphasized that the decline in visitor numbers varies significantly by country, with the most substantial reductions recorded among travelers from the Persian Gulf and South Asia.