ABSTRACT
TheArabGulfliesbetweentheArabianPeninsulainthewest,IranintheEast,theStraitofHormuzandtheGulfofOmaninthesouth andIraqinthenorth.ThelengthoftheGulfisabout430nautical milesanditswidthvariesfrom160nauticalmilesatitswidestto21 nauticalmilesatitsnarrowestpointwhichisattheStraitofHormuz. Inviewofthedepthofitsbayswhicharesuitableforanchorage,its calmwatersandnavigability,itbecameanimportantmaritimecentre. Itsshoresattractedtheestablishmentofvarioussettlementsandforts throughouthistory.
