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Elaborated geological mapping and structural analysis of the Gulf of Suez's western side revealed two superimposed tectonic regimes; Late Cretaceous‐Early Eocene dextral transpression along ENE‐oriented deep‐seated faults and NE Oligo‐Miocene extension. Pre‐rift structures are represented by four ENE‐oriented right‐lateral strike‐slip deformation zones (DZ). Each DZ is defined by the ENE‐oriented right‐lateral strike‐slip faults, NE to ENE growth folds, and NW‐oriented normal faults. The orthogonal relation between the growth folds and NW‐oriented faults indicates their association to a strike‐slip tectonic regime. The tight overturned folds and the small angles between the growth fold axis and the principal deformation zone implies transpression rather than simple shearing. A transpressional tectonic regime with NW‐SE maximum principal stress (σ1) and NE‐SW minimum principal stress (σ3) were dominantly active during Late Cretaceous‐Early Eocene. The occurrence of three angular unconformities at different stratigraphic levels within the Upper Cretaceous‐Lower Eocene sedimentary sequences infer the deformation age. ENE anticlines have grown above the propagating deep‐seated transpressional faults, associated with continuous exhumation along their hinge zones and syntectonic deposition in the sub‐basins beyond their steep limbs.

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