Investment Boom in Kish Island Breaks Three-Year Record

TEHRAN (Iran News) In a press briefing held on Kish Island, Mohammad Kabiri, the newly appointed CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, unveiled an ambitious development plan titled “Kish 1414,” positioning the island as a model for seventh-generation free zones by 2035.

Kabiri announced that 13 investment projects worth 330 trillion rials (approximately $660 million) were finalized in the past half-year, marking the highest investment influx in the last three years. He attributed this success to comprehensive reforms and new strategic priorities.

A notable breakthrough came with the resolution of a 20-year dispute over 110 hectares of land, formerly under contention with the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order. This settlement allows for the formal documentation of over 10,000 privately-owned plots that previously lacked official titles.

In another legal victory, a French court ruled in favor of returning the land involved in the “Gol-e Shargh” project—valued at over $1 billion—to the Kish Free Zone, although the organization is liable for certain penalties, which are under negotiation.

The development of Kish’s airport is central to these plans. A new runway and advanced navigation systems, including an ILS, will be inaugurated during Eid al-Ghadir, backed by an investment of 15 trillion rials.

Health services are being expanded with the number of specialists increasing to over 100. Free insurance coverage continues for sanitation workers, locals, and teachers, while cancer screening programs are being launched in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

In education, construction of 10 new schools is underway, and specialized university programs in artificial intelligence will be supported via grants in partnership with the University of Tehran.

Transport upgrades include the addition of 120 new taxis, port expansion, and planning for Iran’s first aircraft maintenance center (MRO) on the island. In communication, six new towers will be installed to enhance connectivity.

Kabiri highlighted upcoming mega-projects, such as: The transformation of Kish’s second-largest underground oil field, worth $7 billion, into an investment hub; Creation of a 27-hectare exhibition city; and expansion of the Aftab Port and development of Hendurabi as a green island.

He emphasized transitioning from land-based revenue to sustainable income sources and announced active negotiations with 17 investors to establish a southern health district.

In closing, Kabiri invited domestic and foreign investors to participate in these large-scale initiatives. He expressed confidence that with the implementation of “Kish 1414,” investment attraction will triple, turning Kish into a national model of a seventh-generation free zone.