Arabian horse festival to attract tourists, investors in southern Iran
Iran is seeking to turn its Arabian horse industry into a driver of tourism and regional trade, with a festival planned for February 2027 in the southwestern cities of Khorramshahr and Abadan, a local official said.
Ahmed Sharifat, head of the tourism commission at the Khorramshahr Chamber of Commerce, said the event aims to establish southwestern Khuzestan as a regional destination for horse-related tourism, IRNA reported.
“Iran has about 10,000 purebred Arabian horses, more than 6,000 of them in Khuzestan province,” Sharifat said.
The province’s location near Arab countries gives it opportunities to expand horse breeding, tourism and trade.
But the industry lacks standard racetracks, quarantine facilities and a legal framework for horse exports. Some Arabian horses are transferred illegally to Iraq because breeders cannot access proper export channels, Sharifat said.
He described Iraq as an important and accessible market that could generate foreign currency earnings if legal exports were facilitated.
Organizers have invited prominent Iraqi horse industry figures to attend the festival and are seeking their participation as guests and financial sponsors.
At a meeting in Khorramshahr, horse club owners, riders, breeders and officials discussed industry challenges, including sponsorship, support for clubs and the development of festival infrastructure.
An Arvand Free Zone representative outlined efforts to allocate land for an equestrian club. The provincial agriculture department also offered to cooperate, including by exploring ways to use existing systems to facilitate the purchase and supply of horse feed.
Participants also proposed a specialist working group to address the concerns of breeders and club owners.
The head of the tourism commission at the Khorramshahr Chamber of Commerce added that the festival was intended to go beyond a one-off event and help establish permanent facilities for regular international competitions.
“Investment in racetracks and related infrastructure could create jobs, support local businesses and strengthen Khuzestan’s role in regional tourism,” he added.