Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بَحرُ ٱلْعَرَبْ, romanized: baḥr al-ʿarab) is a large part of the Indian Ocean located to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by many lands, including the Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel to the west, the Gulf of Oman and Iran to the northwest, Pakistan to the north, India to the east, and the Laccadive Sea and the Maldives to the southeast. This sea covers an area of 3,862,000 km² (1,491,000 sq mi) and reaches depths of up to 5,395 meters (17,700 feet).

Throughout history, the Arabian Sea has been a key route for ships carrying goods across the world. Many important trading ports have grown along its coasts, such as the Jawaharlal Nehru and Mormugao Ports in India, the Ports of Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar in Pakistan, Chabahar Port in Iran, and the Port of Salalah in Oman. Large islands like Socotra (Yemen), Masirah (Oman), and Astola (Pakistan) also lie within its waters.

Countries that have coastlines along the Arabian Sea include Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Iran, India, and the Maldives. The sea connects to the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait via the Gulf of Aden, and to the Persian Gulf through the Gulf of Oman. It has always been a busy place for travel and trade.

Geography

The Arabian Sea covers an area of about 3,862,000 km². It is widest at about 2,400 km and deepest at 5,395 meters. The largest river flowing into it is the Indus River.

The sea has two important parts: the Gulf of Aden in the southwest, linking to the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Oman to the northwest, connecting to the Persian Gulf. It also borders the gulfs of Khambhat and Kutch along the Indian Coast.

The International Hydrographic Organization sets the borders of the Arabian Sea. On the west, it ends at the eastern limit of the Gulf of Aden. On the north, a line connects Ràs al Hadd on the Arabian Peninsula to Ràs Jiyùni in Pakistan. On the south, a line runs from the southern end of Addu Atoll in the Maldives to the eastern tip of Ràs Hafun in Africa. On the east, the border follows the western edge of the Laccadive Sea from Sadashivgad in India to Cora Divh, then down the west side of the Laccadive and Maldives islands to the southern tip of Addu Atoll.

Important underwater features include the Indus Fan, the second largest fan system in the world. The deepest point in the Arabian Sea is in the Alula-Fartak Trough, reaching over 5,395 meters deep.

Prominent underwater mountains near the Indian coast include Raman Seamount and Panikkar Seamount. Notable islands in the Arabian Sea include the Socotra Archipelago, Masirah, and Astola, along with the Lakshadweep and Maldives islands.

Astola Island, also called Jezira Haft Talar, is a small island in Pakistan’s waters, home to many rare sea turtles. Zalzala Koh was a small island off Pakistan’s coast that appeared after earthquakes in 2013 but disappeared by 2016.

Socotra is the largest island in the Arabian Sea, part of a group of islands under Yemen’s control. It lies east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. Masirah and the Khuriya Muriya Islands lie off the southeast coast of Oman.

History

The Arabian Sea trade

The Arabian Sea has been an important route for maritime trade since early times. People used simple sailing boats along the coasts as early as 4,000 years ago, and sea trade began around 3,000 years ago. Trade happened between places like Sumer, Ancient Egypt, and the Indus Valley Civilization along the Arabian coast. Important ports like Kanjetar and Lothal were part of these trade routes.

By the time of Julius Caesar, the Arabian Sea was a key part of trade routes to the Roman Empire. Goods traveled from the Far East and India, passing through places like Bharuch, and then split into two routes—one going north into the Levant and the other south to Alexandria.

Imperialism and conflict

The Arabian Sea's location made it important for many empires to control the area. This began around 200 years ago when kingdoms in the Southern Arabian Peninsula came under the control of Sassanid Persia.

Modern economic and geopolitical activity

Petroleum and natural gas – shipping & production

Many of the Middle East's oil and natural gas deposits are in the Persian Gulf or north of the Arabian Basin. Major natural gas deposits have been found off the coast of Western India. The Strait of Hormuz is very important for oil and gas shipping, carrying about 25% of the world's oil and 19% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.

Major ports and naval installations

Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai is the largest port in the Arabian Sea and India's largest container port. Other major Indian ports include Mumbai, New Mangalore, Mundra, Kandla, Pipavav, and Mormugão Ports.

The Port of Karachi is Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport. Gwadar Port is a deep-sea port near the Persian Gulf. Jinnah Naval Base is Pakistan's second-largest naval base.

Oman has several foreign military facilities that help friendly ships and crews. The Port of Salalah has hosted international forces working to stop piracy in the Arabian Sea.

The Port of Nishtoun is Yemen's main port on the Arabian Sea, used for trade and fishing. In December 2025, it was taken over by forces backed by the United Arab Emirates.

Climate and environment

Climate

See also: Climate of the Maldives, Climate of Oman, Climate of Somalia, and Coastal South West India

The Arabian Sea has a climate that changes with the seasons. In the past, temperatures were steady, but recently they have been changing more often. This has led to bigger changes in weather patterns.

The monsoon seasons

Main article: Monsoon

In the summer, strong winds from Africa and the western Indian Ocean bring warm, wet air towards the Arabian Sea. This creates the rainy season in South Asia and changes the environment across the region. These winds, known as the Findlater Jet, are very strong and blow northeastwards. Before the summer rains start, the sea’s surface warms up for a few months. In winter, cooler, dry winds from the Hindu-Kush and Himalayas blow southwards.

Arabian Sea warming

Recent studies show that the Arabian Sea is getting warmer each year. Experts believe climate change is a big reason for this. The warming has caused the sea’s surface temperatures to rise, especially in recent years. This warming affects the sea’s plants and animals.

Wildlife

The Arabian Sea is home to many different plants and animals. The changing temperatures and seasons create many different conditions, allowing many species to live there. During the summer rains, lots of nutrients come up from deep in the sea, making it a very rich place for sea life.

The Arabian Sea LME

The Arabian Sea large marine ecosystem covers almost 4 million square kilometres and includes many sea creatures. It is very rich in life because lots of nutrients come to the surface each year during the rains.

Threats

The plants and animals in the Arabian Sea face dangers from human activities like shipping, getting oil and gas from the sea, building along the coast, and taking water from the sea.

Oxygen minimum zone

The Arabian Sea has one of the largest areas in the world with very little oxygen in deep water. This makes it hard for many sea creatures to live there. The low oxygen levels are caused by things like warm temperatures and winds that bring nutrients to the surface but use up the oxygen. Scientists are studying how this might change in the future.