Murtuza Naghiyev was born on 5 May 1908. From 1926 to 1929, he studied at Baku State University, Faculty of Workers. In 1935, he graduated from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. He started his career in 1932. From 1938 to 1940, he headed Cracking Laboratory, Azerbaijan Oil Refining Research Institute. From 1940 to 1942, he served as an associate professor at the Department of Oil Refinery Engineering, Azerbaijan Industrial Institute.

In 1940, Murtuza Naghiyev defended a PhD thesis, and obtained a ScD degree in 1944. In 1945, he became a professor. In 1952, he was elected a full member of ANAS.

From 1952 to 1957, he served as academic secretary at the Department of Physics and Technology, ANAS. From 1957 to 1959, he was vice president of the Academy of Sciences, and served as senior academic secretary at the Academy of Sciences from 1961 to 1966. Murtuza Naghiyev was a member of the Higher Attestation Commission under the USSR Ministry of Higher Education from 1958 until his death. In 1959-1960, he chaired BSU Department of Physics and Chemistry, lecturing on chemical kinetics.

Academician Naghiyev published 30 fundamental monographs and 300 papers. He was the holder of several authorship certificates.  He edited several monographs, including Azerbaijani Journal of Chemistry from 1961 to 1975, and was a member of editorial staff of “ANAS papers” and “Petrochemistry” (Moscow) journals. He supervised three ScD and 30 PhD students to completion. In 1956, he was given the title “Merited Scientist of Azerbaijan SSR”.

Academician Naghiyev gave lectures in Belgium (1958), France (1960), United Kingdom (1966), Czechoslovakia (1964). As a prominent public figure, he was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR of 4th, 5th and 6th convocations. In 1969, he was awarded the title “Hero of Socialist Labor”. He also was the recipient of “Lenin” and “Red Labor Flag” orders and several medals, and was awarded a certificate of recognition by the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijani SSR. The Institute of Theoretical Problems of Chemical Technology (present-day Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry) which academician Naghiyev founded in 1991 and headed, was named after him.