Oxycheilinus orientalis (Günther), type locality Indonesia, is recorded from the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea from specimens collected from seagrass beds in 8-15 m. A full description of the species is provided, with color illustrations. Oxycheilinus rhodochrous (Günther), known from 1 specimen from Zanzibar, is a junior synonym. Specimens of O. orientalis are also reported from the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands, and Lombok, Indonesia.