It borders Russia to the north and Georgia to the west, as well as the economic regions of Quba-Khachmaz, Mountainous Shirvan, Central Aran, and Ganja-Dashkasan.

The region consists of the districts of Balakan, Zagatala, Gakh, Shaki, Oghuz and Qabala.

The altitude ranges from 100 to 466100–466 metres (328–1,529 ft), the peak of Mount Bazardüzü, which is the tallest mountain in Azerbaijan and Russia.

The region includes the following important rivers: Kish, Shin, Balakanchay, Katekh, Damiraparan, Mazım, Mukhakh, Ganikh, Ayrichay, Alijan and Turyan.

Rich sources of thermal and mineral waters are available at Oghlanbulag, Gizbulag, Hamambulag, Budusshor, Aghbulag and Khalkhal.

The region holds second place after the Lankaran-Astara zone for the range of annual rainfall amounts.

Caucasian wing nut (Pterocarya pterocarpa), hybrid poplar (Populus), and long-stem oak (Quercus longipes) are all dominant species of trees in flatland forests.

The dominant flora of the down mountain forest zone (1,000–1,100 metres (3,300–3,600 ft)) are Iberian oak and eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis).

More than 75% of tobacco, 17% of grain, 35% of barley, and 2% of green tea-leaf in Azerbaijan are produced in this economic region.

The food industry is mainly developed in horticulture, tobacco and livestock products processing.

In addition, small businesses that produce domestic bakeries, eastern sweets and non-alcoholic beverages are also operating in the economic region.

Other sectors of the industry of the region include the Zagatala furniture factory, the brick plant, the Balakan field enterprise, etc.

[6][7][8] The transport network of the Shaki-Zagatala economic-geographical region consists of railways and highways, partly airways and pipelines.

The railway runs mainly through four administrative regions (Shaki, Zagatala, Gakh and Balakan).

The economic-geographical region joins the South Caucasus and TRACECA transport network with this highway.

In recent years, air transport has been revived in Shaki-Zagatala and in 2007 the new airport in Zagatala was put into operation.