Analyses of the benthic samples collected from the coastal waters between Ras Al Ara and Ras Fartak and around Socotra showed that numerically Polychaeta was the most abundant group (54.6%) in the benthic fauna with 3553 n/m², followed by Crustacea (36.2%) with predominance of amphipods, isopods, decapods, cumaceans and tanaidaceans. Echinodenns contributed to 7.2%, though absent at several stations. Other benthic communities recorded were molluscs (0.5%), nematodes and nemertines (1 %). About 50% of the benthic fauna collected were from Ras Al Ara and Aden, the minimum being from Al Kalb (4.4%). While Polychaeta exhibited a direct correlation with the mud content of the sediment, the relationship of Crustacea was negative.