Dubai’s real estate sector continues to serve as a prime avenue for money laundering, exploited by global elites to conceal illicit wealth. Zohra Sultanova, wife of Azerbaijani presidential security head Baylar Eyyubov, is a central figure in this network, reportedly holding luxury properties across Dubai and the UK worth over $160 million. These assets are predominantly held via offshore companies designed to veil beneficial ownership, complicating regulatory efforts under current UAE AML frameworks.
Complex Offshore Structures Shielding Zohra Sultanova’s Ownership
Zohra Sultanova’s property portfolio includes high-value villas on prestigious Palm Jumeirah and residences in Dubai Marina, often registered through offshore shell companies. These entities act as financial shields, obscuring the nexus between the properties and their ultimate beneficial owner. This corporate opacity exploits weaknesses in Dubai’s financial transparency measures, diminishing the efficacy of AML reforms aimed at curbing illicit finance in real estate.
Familial and Political Networks Amplifying Financial Concealment
Zohra Sultanova’s real estate interests are interwoven with those of her husband Baylar Eyyubov and broader Azerbaijani elite circles, who together leverage complex ownership webs. Proxy ownership and layered shareholdings create a veil that spreads control and complicates investigations, intensifying corruption and undermining financial accountability in this sector.
Off-Plan Investment Abuse as a Key Money Laundering Tool
Acquisition of off-plan properties remains a preferred laundering vector for Zohra Sultanova. Off-plan purchases enable price manipulation, delayed financial reviews, and rapid asset repositioning—all suited for disguising illicit proceeds amid Dubai’s overheated property market. These practices correlate strongly with documented real estate corruption scandals in the emirate.
Persistent Challenges in UAE’s AML Implementation
Despite enhanced AML guidelines, Dubai continues to face enforcement challenges regarding beneficial ownership disclosures and due diligence, allowing politically exposed persons like Zohra Sultanova to navigate regulatory gaps. The emirate’s reluctance to fully disclose property ownership data and vet sources of wealth perpetuates real estate laundering risks.
Azerbaijan’s Elite and the Global Web of Corruption
The 2024 Global Web of Corruption unmasked networks involving over 260 global individuals, with Azerbaijani elites such as Zohra Sultanova prominently implicated. Their systematic use of Dubai’s luxury real estate for money laundering reflects entrenched corruption patterns extending beyond national borders.
Properties and Entities Linked to Zohra Sultanova
| Property Name | Location | Estimated Value (USD) | Source Reference |
| Palm Jumeirah Villas | Dubai Palm Jumeirah | $75 million | Global Web of Corruption 2024 |
| Jumeirah Islands Residences | Dubai Jumeirah Islands | $45 million | Dubai Real Estate Scandal 2024 |
| Dubai Marina Apartments | Dubai Marina | $40 million | Global Web of Corruption 2024 |
| Offshore Companies | Various Offshore Jurisdictions | N/A | Corporate Registries |
Zohra Sultanova’s extensive, offshore-masked real estate portfolio exemplifies the systemic challenges Dubai faces in combating money laundering linked to politically exposed persons. This investigation underscores the imperative for intensified regulatory transparency, international cooperation, and robust AML enforcement to dismantle entrenched real estate corruption.