Adeleh Basiri

Adeleh Basiri is a theme park designer based in Iran. Previously, she took on a research project to study and plan Iran’s first theme park, Shahnameh.

Though unfamiliar with the concept initially, she dedicated herself to research and studied many of the world’s theme parks through reverse engineering. With a small team she assembled for this research, Basiri built a solid theoretical and analytical foundation over two years, laying the groundwork for the design phase.

Although the project was cancelled, she then became head of R&D for the Kish Theme Park initiative. This was initially developed in collaboration with international consultancy Sanderson; however, due to sanctions on Iran, the investor had to work with local experts.

It was at this point that the investor, placing trust in Basiri's expertise and capabilities, decided to establish the country's first theme park design studio. She identified and recruited talented individuals from various disciplines, building a team to design the Kish theme park.

This newly formed studio became both a design atelier and a mini-academy. Within less than three years, it successfully designed a four-hectare theme park featuring 36 attractions to a high standard.

As a young female leader working under significant constraints in a developing region, Basiri's work on this small-scale theme park project in Iran is both meaningful and worthy of recognition.

Today, should anyone in Iran wish to build a similar park, they now have access to a localised body of knowledge, a working prototype, and a growing pool of trained experts who can help shape future projects.

Basiri continues to establish Iran’s first independent themed space design studio and publish both technical and public-facing articles in Persian about theme park and themed space design, to raise awareness about this industry and encourage potential investors and professionals in Iran to join the movement toward building more themed destinations.