This T e is similar to what we would expect for loading of extended continental lithosphere 80 My after a rifting event. ophiolitic) loads were emplaced on a lithosphere with an effective elastic thickness, T eВґ of c. The basin shape can be explained by a simple model in which both surface (i.e. The timing of emplacement cannot be constrained precisely, but the backstrip curves suggest that ophiolite loading and foreland basin flexure was initiated during the Late Cretaceous. Irrespective, the backstrip curves suggest that there was a significant thinning of the continental crust prior to ophiolite emplacement. However, there are discrepancies, which we attribute to uncertainties in palaeobathymetry, sea level, and stratigraphic ages. While both models account for the general exponential decrease that is observed in the tectonic subsidence and uplift between 210 Ma and 95 Ma, we prefer the depth-dependant model because the depth-to-Moho that is implied better accounts for the increase that is observed in the regional Bouguer gravity anomaly between the UAE foreland and the Oman coastline.

The tectonic subsidence and uplift history at the wells can be generally explained by either a uniform extension model with an initial age of rifting of 210 Ma and a stretching factor, ОІ, of 2.5 or a depth-dependant extension model with crustal extension factor of, Оі, 1.3 and a mantle extension factor, ОІ, of 2.5. Backstripping of the well data provides new constraints on the age of rifting, the amount of crustal and mantle extension, and the flexural effects of ophiolite load emplacement. Existing stratigraphic data shows that this margin is characterised by an early syn-rift sequence of mainly Triassic age that is overlain by a post-rift sequence of Lower Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous age. The basin is of tectonic significance because it formed by ophiolite obduction in the northern Oman Mountains and flexural loading of an underlying Tethyan rifted margin. Seismic reflection profile, gravity anomaly, and exploratory well data have been used to determine the structure and evolution of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreland basin.

Flexture lines of the hadn