diff --git a/src/app/layout.tsx b/src/app/layout.tsx
index 4f3f3c8..c584f72 100644
--- a/src/app/layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/layout.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export const metadata: Metadata = {
 };
 
 const themeScript = `
+  document.documentElement.dataset.siteLoading = 'true';
   try {
     const savedTheme = localStorage.getItem('portfolio-theme');
     const systemTheme = matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches ? 'dark' : 'light';
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ export default function RootLayout({
       </head>
       <body>
         <ThemeProvider>{children}</ThemeProvider>
+        <noscript>
+          <style>{`#site-loader { display: none !important; }`}</style>
+        </noscript>
       </body>
     </html>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/page.tsx b/src/app/page.tsx
index c957622..f4d3f02 100644
--- a/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ import { EducationSection } from '@/components/EducationSection';
 import { MilestonesSection } from '@/components/MilestonesSection';
 import { FooterSection } from '@/components/FooterSection';
 import { MotionController } from '@/components/MotionController';
+import { SiteLoader } from '@/components/SiteLoader';
 
 export default function Home() {
   return (
     <main className="desktop-canvas">
+      <SiteLoader />
       <MotionController />
 
       {/* 1. Hero & About Me River Journey (Seamless Scenic Background) */}
diff --git a/src/components/HeroSection.module.css b/src/components/HeroSection.module.css
index 05178fe..2ea957b 100644
--- a/src/components/HeroSection.module.css
+++ b/src/components/HeroSection.module.css
@@ -181,6 +181,15 @@
   animation-delay: 200ms;
 }
 
+:global(html[data-site-loading='true']) .topBar,
+:global(html[data-site-loading='true']) .avatarWrapper,
+:global(html[data-site-loading='true']) .heroTitle,
+:global(html[data-site-loading='true']) .heroSubtitle,
+:global(html[data-site-loading='true']) .actionButtons {
+  opacity: 0;
+  animation: none;
+}
+
 @keyframes heroContentEnter {
   from {
     opacity: 0;
diff --git a/src/components/SiteLoader.module.css b/src/components/SiteLoader.module.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b7b167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/SiteLoader.module.css
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+.loader {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 10000;
+  display: grid;
+  place-items: center;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  background: var(--bg-page);
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  opacity: 1;
+  visibility: visible;
+  transition:
+    opacity 500ms var(--motion-ease-in-out),
+    visibility 0s linear 500ms;
+}
+
+.loader[data-phase='leaving'] {
+  opacity: 0;
+  visibility: hidden;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.grid {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: -25%;
+  background-image:
+    linear-gradient(color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-default) 46%, transparent) 1px, transparent 1px),
+    linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-default) 46%, transparent) 1px, transparent 1px);
+  background-size: 3.5rem 3.5rem;
+  opacity: 0.55;
+  transform: perspective(34rem) rotateX(58deg) rotateZ(-45deg) scale(1.35);
+  transform-origin: center;
+  mask-image: radial-gradient(circle at center, black 0%, transparent 64%);
+}
+
+.content {
+  position: relative;
+  z-index: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  width: min(25rem, calc(100vw - 2.5rem));
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  text-align: center;
+  transition:
+    opacity 400ms var(--motion-ease-in-out),
+    transform 400ms var(--motion-ease-in-out);
+}
+
+.loader[data-phase='leaving'] .content {
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translateY(-0.5rem) scale(0.98);
+}
+
+.scene {
+  position: relative;
+  width: 12.5rem;
+  height: 6rem;
+  margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
+}
+
+.river {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2.8rem;
+  left: 1.65rem;
+  width: 9.25rem;
+  height: 0.42rem;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+  background: linear-gradient(
+    90deg,
+    transparent,
+    var(--accent-default) 16%,
+    var(--accent-default) 84%,
+    transparent
+  );
+  transform: rotate(-8deg) scaleX(0.92);
+  transform-origin: center;
+  animation: riverArrive 900ms var(--motion-ease-out) both;
+}
+
+.island {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 2.65rem;
+  height: 2.65rem;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-strong);
+  border-radius: 0.45rem;
+  background: var(--bg-surface);
+  box-shadow: 0 0.65rem 1.25rem var(--shadow-color);
+  transform: rotate(45deg) translateY(0);
+  animation: islandFloat 2.2s var(--motion-ease-in-out) infinite alternate;
+}
+
+.island::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0.48rem;
+  border-radius: 0.25rem;
+  background: var(--accent-default);
+  opacity: 0.72;
+}
+
+.islandLeft {
+  top: 2.15rem;
+  left: 0.6rem;
+}
+
+.islandCenter {
+  top: 0.1rem;
+  left: 5rem;
+  animation-delay: -700ms;
+}
+
+.islandRight {
+  right: 0.6rem;
+  bottom: 0.1rem;
+  animation-delay: -1.4s;
+}
+
+.traveler {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2.25rem;
+  left: 2.25rem;
+  width: 0.72rem;
+  height: 0.72rem;
+  border: 2px solid var(--bg-page);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--text-primary);
+  box-shadow: 0 0.2rem 0.75rem var(--shadow-color);
+  animation: travelerJourney 2.4s var(--motion-ease-in-out) infinite alternate;
+}
+
+.signature {
+  margin-bottom: 0.65rem;
+  font-size: clamp(1.75rem, 6vw, 2.25rem);
+  line-height: 1.35;
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+}
+
+.message {
+  margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.16em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+
+.progressRow {
+  display: grid;
+  width: 100%;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 3rem;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.875rem;
+}
+
+.progressTrack {
+  height: 3px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+  background: var(--border-default);
+}
+
+.progressFill {
+  display: block;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  border-radius: inherit;
+  background: var(--accent-default);
+  transform-origin: left center;
+  transition: transform 180ms var(--motion-ease-out);
+}
+
+.progressValue {
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 0.8125rem;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  text-align: right;
+}
+
+@keyframes riverArrive {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: rotate(-8deg) scaleX(0.12);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: rotate(-8deg) scaleX(0.92);
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes islandFloat {
+  from {
+    transform: rotate(45deg) translate(0, 0);
+  }
+  to {
+    transform: rotate(45deg) translate(-0.16rem, -0.16rem);
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes travelerJourney {
+  from {
+    transform: translate(0, 0);
+  }
+  to {
+    transform: translate(7.2rem, -1rem);
+  }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 650px) {
+  .scene {
+    margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
+    transform: scale(0.9);
+  }
+
+  .message {
+    margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
+    font-size: 0.6875rem;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .river,
+  .island,
+  .traveler {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+
+  .progressFill {
+    transition: none;
+  }
+
+  .loader[data-phase='leaving'] .content {
+    transform: none;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/SiteLoader.tsx b/src/components/SiteLoader.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ca9e2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/SiteLoader.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+'use client';
+
+import { useEffect, useState, type CSSProperties } from 'react';
+import { education } from '@/data/education';
+import { experiences } from '@/data/experience';
+import { milestones } from '@/data/milestones';
+import { projects } from '@/data/projects';
+import { skillsByDiscipline } from '@/data/skills';
+import styles from './SiteLoader.module.css';
+
+const DARK_PROJECT_IDS = new Set([
+  'qlockify',
+  'guilan-ace',
+  'zarinpal',
+  'interanet-solutions',
+  'subsource',
+]);
+
+const getDarkImagePath = (image: string) =>
+  image.replace(/(\.[^./]+)$/, '-dark$1');
+
+const SITE_ASSETS = Array.from(
+  new Set([
+    '/images/avatar.png',
+    '/assets/footer-background 1.png',
+    '/assets/footer-background-dark.png',
+    ...projects.flatMap((project) => [
+      project.image,
+      ...(DARK_PROJECT_IDS.has(project.id)
+        ? [getDarkImagePath(project.image)]
+        : []),
+    ]),
+    ...Object.values(skillsByDiscipline).flatMap((discipline) =>
+      discipline.tools.map((tool) => tool.icon),
+    ),
+    ...experiences.map((experience) => experience.logo),
+    education.logo,
+    ...milestones.map((milestone) => milestone.image),
+  ]),
+);
+
+const waitForWindowLoad = () =>
+  new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    if (document.readyState === 'complete') {
+      resolve();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('load', () => resolve(), { once: true });
+  });
+
+const waitForPaint = () =>
+  new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => requestAnimationFrame(() => resolve()));
+  });
+
+const preloadImage = (src: string, onSettled: () => void) =>
+  new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    const image = new window.Image();
+    let settled = false;
+
+    const settle = () => {
+      if (settled) return;
+      settled = true;
+      onSettled();
+      resolve();
+    };
+
+    image.decoding = 'async';
+    image.onload = () => {
+      if (typeof image.decode === 'function') {
+        image.decode().catch(() => undefined).finally(settle);
+      } else {
+        settle();
+      }
+    };
+    image.onerror = settle;
+    image.src = src;
+  });
+
+type LoaderPhase = 'loading' | 'leaving' | 'hidden';
+
+export function SiteLoader() {
+  const [progress, setProgress] = useState(0);
+  const [phase, setPhase] = useState<LoaderPhase>('loading');
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+    let exitTimer: ReturnType<typeof window.setTimeout> | undefined;
+    const startedAt = performance.now();
+
+    document.documentElement.dataset.siteLoading = 'true';
+
+    const loadSite = async () => {
+      let settledAssets = 0;
+      const reportAsset = () => {
+        settledAssets += 1;
+        if (!cancelled) {
+          setProgress(Math.round((settledAssets / SITE_ASSETS.length) * 92));
+        }
+      };
+
+      await Promise.all([
+        Promise.all(
+          SITE_ASSETS.map((asset) => preloadImage(asset, reportAsset)),
+        ),
+        document.fonts?.ready ?? Promise.resolve(),
+        waitForWindowLoad(),
+      ]);
+      await waitForPaint();
+
+      const minimumDisplayTime = 800;
+      const remainingTime = Math.max(
+        0,
+        minimumDisplayTime - (performance.now() - startedAt),
+      );
+
+      if (remainingTime > 0) {
+        await new Promise((resolve) => window.setTimeout(resolve, remainingTime));
+      }
+
+      if (cancelled) return;
+
+      setProgress(100);
+      document.documentElement.dataset.siteReady = 'true';
+      delete document.documentElement.dataset.siteLoading;
+      setPhase('leaving');
+
+      exitTimer = window.setTimeout(() => setPhase('hidden'), 500);
+    };
+
+    void loadSite();
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+      if (exitTimer) window.clearTimeout(exitTimer);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  if (phase === 'hidden') return null;
+
+  const progressStyle = {
+    transform: `scaleX(${progress / 100})`,
+  } satisfies CSSProperties;
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      id="site-loader"
+      className={styles.loader}
+      data-phase={phase}
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+      aria-busy={phase === 'loading'}
+      aria-label={`Loading portfolio: ${progress}%`}
+    >
+      <div className={styles.grid} aria-hidden="true" />
+
+      <div className={styles.content}>
+        <div className={styles.scene} aria-hidden="true">
+          <span className={`${styles.island} ${styles.islandLeft}`} />
+          <span className={`${styles.island} ${styles.islandCenter}`} />
+          <span className={`${styles.island} ${styles.islandRight}`} />
+          <span className={styles.river} />
+          <span className={styles.traveler} />
+        </div>
+
+        <p className={`font-display ${styles.signature}`}>
+          Amirhossein Khalili
+        </p>
+        <p className={styles.message}>Assembling the experience</p>
+
+        <div className={styles.progressRow} aria-hidden="true">
+          <div className={styles.progressTrack}>
+            <span className={styles.progressFill} style={progressStyle} />
+          </div>
+          <span className={styles.progressValue}>{progress}%</span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/styles/globals.css b/src/styles/globals.css
index 69153c0..4fe72b7 100644
--- a/src/styles/globals.css
+++ b/src/styles/globals.css
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] {
   color-scheme: dark;
 }
 
+html[data-site-loading='true'] {
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
 body {
   width: 100%;
   min-width: 320px;