Mapping Active Seabed Ruptures in the Eastern Offshore UAE, Gulf of Oman

The eastern offshore region of the United Arab Emirates, located along the northeastern boundary of the Arabian Plate in the Gulf of Oman, is influenced by the tectonic activity of the Zendan-Minab fault system and the Makran subduction zone. This research integrates data from multi-beam bathymetry, seismic reflection profiles, and earthquake monitoring to analyze fault behavior and regional tectonics. High-resolution bathymetric surveys, conducted with an EM 712 multi-beam echo sounder, reveal N-S to NNW fault lineaments. Some of these structures correspond to shallow earthquake events (magnitude ~2–3 Mw) occurring at depths of less than 5 km. Seismic reflection data indicate that these faults penetrate up to 3 km into the subsurface, cutting through Miocene-aged deposits. Additionally, sediment accumulation within Pleistocene-Holocene deposits, ranging from 1 to 2.5 km in thickness, and signs of eastward tilting suggest tectonic activity related to the Makran subduction. Fault geometries observed in the area, such as negative flower structures and en-echelon half-grabens, indicate a localized pull-apart basin formed through strike-slip faulting associated with the Zendan-Minab fault zone. The results of this study reveal ongoing seafloor ruptures, contributing to a better understanding of seismic activity and tectonic evolution in the Gulf of Oman.