The Arabian Sea is a natural CO₂ source to the atmosphere, but previous work highlights discrepancies between data and models in estimating air–sea CO₂ flux. In this study, we use a regional ocean model, achieve a flux closer to available data, and break down the seasonal cycles that impact it, with one result being the great importance of monsoon winds. As demonstrated in a meta-analysis, differences from data still remain, highlighting the great need for further regional data collection.