Arabian Gulf is characterized by being nutrient-rich, which contributes to the biodiversity of marine macro- and microalgae. Marine algae are a potentially prolific source of many valuable products that may represent useful leads in developing the quality of human life. The studies on the bioactivity of marine algae in the Arabian Gulf region are very recent; thus, there are not many studies on this field. This review paper is focus on the importance of algae in various fields, and the benefit of such organisms to solve many environmental and health problems to develop the economy, and healthcare of surrounding Gulf countries by taking advantage of many common algal species present in the Arabian Gulf waters. Studies focuses on potentially using local algal species to control common environmental problems in the region such as harmful algal blooms, oil spills, and in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, they were a potential source of food and feed, and can be used in medical field for the treatment of many common diseases. This review describe researches involving the most common algal species found in Arabian Gulf contributing for the bioactive compound’s isolation, for its productivity in large scale, and for its potential biotechnological applications. 

  

Key words: Biotechnology, Marine algae, seaweeds, algae processing, pharmacologically active compounds, algae as food, aquaculture feed, algae oil content.