Arif Pashayev

Arif Mirjalal oghlu Pashayev (; born February 15, 1934) is an Azerbaijani businessperson who is the father of Mehriban Aliyeva, the vice president of Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev’s wife.

He owns a number of businesses.

He is a professor at the Azerbaijan Technical University, chief researcher at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. He is rector of the National Aviation Academy of Azerbaijan since 1996, president of the Azerbaijan Engineering Academy, Chairman of the Council on Cosmic Affairs of Azerbaijan. He is also vice president of International Academy of Engineering.

Awards and prizes State prizes State Prize of Azerbaijan SSR – 1991 Honorary title of Honored Scientist of Azerbaijan – December 14, 2005 Sharaf Order – February 12, 2009 Istiglal Order – February 14, 2014