Kish Island

Iran, Iran

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Kish Island is a 91.5-square-kilometer resort island in the Persian Gulf, located 18 kilometers off the southern coast of Iran in Hormozgan Province, and serves as a major tourist destination and free trade zone.

The elliptical-shaped island measures approximately 13 kilometers east-west and 7 kilometers north-south, with a circumference of about 42 kilometers and a highest point reaching 45 meters above sea level. Since the mid-1990s, the Iranian government has invested heavily to position Kish as a rival to Dubai and Doha, creating the Kish Free Zone where Iran's standard laws are more relaxed, offering 15 years of tax exemption, no entry visa requirement for foreign tourists (who can obtain visas on arrival for up to 14 days), and 100% foreign ownership possibilities.

The island is renowned for its sunny beaches, luxurious hotels like Dariush and Toranj, water sports, and modern amenities including shopping malls, the International Oil Bourse, Kish Stock Exchange, and an aquarium displaying marine species unique to the Persian Gulf. Kish has a rich historical legacy dating back to the 4th century BC when Greek navarch Nearchus visited during Alexander the Great's reign, and the island has been ruled by various civilizations including Elamites, Persians, Portuguese, and British before becoming part of modern Iran.

The island's population has grown from 20,667 in 2006 to 39,853 in 2016, and it hosts international sporting events including the Fajr International Squash Championship and Asian Beach Volleyball Championship, complementing its natural attractions like Kariz-e-Kish, an ancient underground city.