The North Arabian Sea is a geographical concept defining the northern portion of the Arabian Sea, which is the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. It is bounded by the southern coastlines of Iran and Pakistan along the Makran region. The larger Arabian Sea was formed approximately 150-120 million years ago when the Indian Plate drifted northward from Gondwana. Historically, it has served as a major trade route for centuries, linking the Middle East, India, and East Africa.
The region functions as a critical maritime corridor, connecting the Suez Canal route with South Asian ports. It has two main arms: the Gulf of Oman in the northwest, which leads to the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Aden in the southwest, which connects to the Red Sea via the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. This location makes it an energy lifeline for the transport of massive volumes of petroleum and natural gas. The sea is also vital for India as the source of the Southwest monsoon.
The North Arabian Sea connects to international maritime law, such as the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), which governs the delimitation of maritime zones like the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). India's naval diplomacy, codified since 2007, focuses on strengthening cooperation with littoral states like Oman. Recently, the region, particularly the North Arabian Sea Crescent (NASC), has become a maritime hotspot. Since late 2023 and early 2024, attacks by Houthi militia have disrupted supply chains, forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels via the Cape of Good Hope. Furthermore, a naval encounter between Indian and Pakistani vessels in September 2026 led to a diplomatic protest, citing a contravention of Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises.