Iran’s cultural diversity to be showcased at Hormozgan’s handicrafts expo
The Seventh National Handicrafts Exhibition will be held from 22 to 26 December 2025 in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province. This national event provides a distinguished platform to showcase the cultural richness of Iranian provinces and to strengthen the tourism value chain across the Persian Gulf region.
Handicraft works created by veteran and young artists from 30 provinces across the country will be displayed in 153 specialized pavilions at Bandar Abbas Mall, offering a magnificent and comprehensive showcase of authentic Iranian identity, creativity, and traditional artistry, IRNA reported.
Bandar Abbas Mall, a large tourism, commercial, and cultural complex, functions not only as a shopping center but also as a multifaceted tourism destination. The complex includes a children’s tourism center, a health tourism center, two cinema halls, a study and cultural tourism center, as well as accommodation and hospitality facilities.
The complex also features two elements registered on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list — oud (the craftsmanship and performance of oud music) and Lenj (the traditional knowledge of building and navigating wooden vessels of the Persian Gulf) — while simultaneously introducing the historical, cultural, and tourism attractions of Hormozgan Province. Bandar Abbas Mall is located in the northern Golshahr district of Bandar Abbas.
The Director General of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization of Hormozgan Province said the national cultural event offers a valuable opportunity to provide direct support for handicraft artists, introduce the cultural capacities of Iran’s provinces, and strengthen the cultural tourism axis in Hormozgan.
Emphasizing the role of handicrafts in safeguarding cultural identity, he noted that handicrafts represent a living manifestation of Iran’s intangible heritage, indigenous knowledge, and the artistic expression of its people. National exhibitions, he added, create a platform for showcasing these capacities, facilitating the transfer of experience, and reinforcing cultural continuity and intergenerational ties.
Describing the National Handicrafts Exhibition as a driving force behind cultural tourism development, he stated that such events enhance the cultural appeal of cities, attract domestic and international tourists, increase the length of tourist stays, and contribute to the economic vitality of host destinations. Hosting the exhibition in Bandar Abbas, he said, presents a valuable opportunity to introduce Hormozgan’s cultural and artistic capabilities at the national level.
Referring to the economic impacts of the event, he explained that the exhibition enables the direct supply and sale of handicraft products, facilitates direct interaction between artists and audiences, and helps identify investment opportunities. These outcomes, he noted, play an effective role in job creation, production growth, and the strengthening of the creative economy.
He added that the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization of Hormozgan Province, with a strategic focus on supporting handicraft producers and expanding sales markets, is seriously pursuing the organization of national and specialized events.
Currently, more than 80,000 handicraft artisans are active in Hormozgan Province, about 60,000 of whom have received official operating licenses. In addition, licenses have been issued for 11 handicraft shops across the province.
With more than 900 kilometers of coastline stretching from the border with Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the east along the Sea of Oman to the border with Bushehr Province in the west along the Persian Gulf, Hormozgan boasts the longest coastline in the country. The province is also home to Iran’s most strategic islands, endowed with vast oil and gas reserves. Covering a land area of 71,193 square kilometers, Hormozgan ranks as the eighth-largest province in the country.
Owing to its strategic location along the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Hormozgan enjoys a privileged position for commercial activities, particularly in the maritime-based economy. Its rich historical background further attests to the province’s exceptional strategic importance and its enduring value to the Islamic Republic of Iran.