Maslak is Istanbul's CBD. Set in the Sarıyer district on the European side, it's the city's most concentrated cluster of corporate headquarters, glass-and-steel towers, and serviced residential complexes. Trump Towers Istanbul, Maslak 1453, Spine Tower, İş Bank Towers, Mashattan, Selenium Tower — all within a 2 km radius. Where Levent is the "old" financial district (still active, but mature), Maslak is the "new" CBD where most post-2010 tower development has happened.

For property investors, Maslak's appeal is structural rather than aesthetic. The rental demand engine is the corporate workforce — tens of thousands of executives, expat professionals, and Turkish white-collar staff working at the financial firms, telecoms, and tech companies HQ'd in the district. That demand layer is what supports the area's 5–7% gross rental yields, among Istanbul's highest for prime-grade product. It's also what makes Maslak a clean investor entry point rather than a lifestyle purchase.

This guide walks through the main residential towers, current pricing, rental performance, the citizenship-route mechanics, and how Maslak compares to Levent, Zorlu, and the other Istanbul CBD-adjacent investor markets.

📐Maslak business district aerial
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The major residential developments

Maslak's residential supply is dominated by a small number of large mixed-use towers and complexes. Each has a different positioning, price band, and tenant profile.

Trump Towers Istanbul

The branded-residence tower — twin 200m+ towers (one residential, one office) with the Trump-branded mall at the base. The most internationally-recognised address in Maslak. Premium pricing — typically $5,500–8,000 per sqm. Strong rental demand from executives wanting branded prestige.

Maslak 1453 (Ağaoğlu)

A massive Ağaoğlu development on the northern edge of Maslak, with 4,000+ residential units across multiple towers. The largest single residential project in the district. Wide range of unit sizes from studios to penthouses. Citizenship-eligible options from approximately $400K. Pricing: $3,000–6,000 per sqm. Strong forest-view stock at the higher floors. The most-traded development for citizenship-route foreign buyers.

Spine Tower (Ağaoğlu)

Architecturally signature Ağaoğlu tower — distinctive twisted form, 200+ m high. Premium pricing, smaller apartments aimed at high-end singles and couples. $4,500–7,000 per sqm.

Mashattan

Older (early 2010s) mixed-use complex with a more residential-village feel — multiple lower-rise blocks rather than a single tower. Mature trees, established community. Pricing: $3,500–5,500 per sqm. Often a value entry point for buyers who prefer a settled environment.

Vadi Istanbul (adjacent)

Adjacent to Maslak — mixed-use development by Artaş combining retail, residential, and office. The most successful retail-residential mix in Maslak. Apartments above the mall offer convenience-led living. $3,500–6,000 per sqm.

Other notable towers

Selenium Plaza, Veko Tower, Maslak No.1, Skyland Istanbul (just outside the Maslak boundary in Ayazağa) — each adds 200–800 units to the available stock with different positioning.

Why Maslak works as an investor district

Maslak's investor case rests on three pillars: structural tenant demand, transport connectivity, and supply rhythm. Each is worth understanding before buying.

🌆View from a Maslak tower
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Tenant demand

Maslak hosts the regional or country HQs of Garanti BBVA, İş Bank, Türk Telekom, Akbank, BNP Paribas, ING, Trump Organisation (mixed-use), plus tech companies including Trendyol, Hepsiburada, and a deep bench of consulting and law firms. The corporate workforce — roughly 80,000–100,000 people working in the district daily — is the structural tenant base. For 1+1 and 2+1 apartments aimed at this segment, occupancy is consistently high.

Transport

Three metro stations serve the district: ITU-Ayazağa, Sanayi, and Atatürk Oto Sanayi. The M2 metro line connects Maslak to Levent (10 min) and Taksim (20 min). Bus and minibus connections to Sarıyer and the Bosphorus villages. Istanbul Airport is 35 minutes by car or 50 minutes by metro + airport-bus.

Supply rhythm

Maslak's residential supply is essentially built-out — major new tower projects in the core district are rare now. Adjacent Ayazağa (where Skyland and other large developments sit) is still adding inventory, but the Maslak core itself has limited new supply. This is positive for existing-stock owners: prices are supported by limited new-build competition.

Citizenship-route fit

Maslak is one of Istanbul's most efficient districts for the Turkish citizenship-by-investment route. The combination of: (1) plenty of units near or above the $400K threshold, (2) clean titles in well-managed towers, (3) reliable SPK valuations from established developers, (4) immediate rental income to offset holding costs during the 3-year mandatory hold — makes it a clean investor route.

The most common citizenship-route purchase pattern in Maslak: one 2+1 apartment in Maslak 1453 or Mashattan around $450–600K, generating $2,500–4,000/month gross rental income, with the property held for 3+ years and (in many cases) sold post-citizenship for moderate capital gain. See our 2026 CBI changes guide for the new admin requirements (spouse residence permit, fingerprinting, criminal-record certificate).

Combined with the recent 20-year tax holiday for foreign investors, the after-tax economics of a Maslak rental property over the full citizenship-and-beyond holding period are now meaningfully stronger than they were 12 months ago.