Measures of genetic diversity can provide important insight into the taxonomic status and viability of wildlife populations. Genetic diversity is considered essential for populations to adapt to changing environments. Until recently most studies that assessed the genetic diversity of wild animal populations used adaptively neutral genetic markers. Genetic diversity to guide conservation, however, is better reflected by regions of the genome that harbor adaptive genetic variation, such as the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Fujairah Research Centre in collaboration with UAEU, assesses the genetic diversity of an offshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) population in the Gulf of Oman, ca. 50-70 km off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Previously no population genetic studies have been conducted on this population thus far, and species delimitation is unclear. This allows us to assess and compare the MHC diversity of this population to the MHC variation of other Tursiops populations. For the same individuals, we will sequence additional mitochondrial DNA loci to provide further insight into the taxonomic status of that dolphin population. The results of this genetic study provide important information for the adaptive potential, taxonomic status, and conservation of an offshore population of bottlenose dolphins.