diff --git a/ee/config/feature_flags/gitlab_com_derisk/search_client_adapter_options.yml b/ee/config/feature_flags/gitlab_com_derisk/search_client_adapter_options.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..795f35fdd6c95da2a96fbabcce056a6f86665bf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ee/config/feature_flags/gitlab_com_derisk/search_client_adapter_options.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+name: search_client_adapter_options
+description:
+feature_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/550805
+introduced_by_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/203919
+rollout_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/568114
+milestone: '18.4'
+group: group::global search
+type: gitlab_com_derisk
+default_enabled: false
diff --git a/ee/lib/gitlab/elastic/client.rb b/ee/lib/gitlab/elastic/client.rb
index 35c5faa0b6930b15d749b5e0eccaa372435beae0..27587b9b17557acfa127019e11d2da9199ae746f 100644
--- a/ee/lib/gitlab/elastic/client.rb
+++ b/ee/lib/gitlab/elastic/client.rb
@@ -31,6 +31,32 @@ def self.build(config)
           debug: debug?
         }.compact
 
+        if Feature.enabled?(:search_client_adapter_options, :instance)
+          base_config[:adapter_options] = {
+            # Connection pool limits to prevent accumulation
+            maxconnects: 10,            # Max connections per ES host
+            max_total_connections: 50,  # Total pool size across all hosts
+
+            # Connection lifecycle management
+            timeout: config[:client_request_timeout],
+            connecttimeout: OPEN_TIMEOUT,
+
+            # Connection cleanup settings
+            tcp_keepalive: 1,           # Enable TCP keepalive
+            tcp_keepidle: 60,           # Start keepalive after 60s idle
+            tcp_keepintvl: 30,          # Keepalive probe interval
+
+            # Force periodic connection refresh (prevents stale connections)
+            maxage: 300, # Max connection age (5 minutes)
+
+            # Headers to assist with proper connection handling
+            httpheader: [
+              'Connection: keep-alive',
+              'Keep-Alive: timeout=60, max=100'
+            ]
+          }
+        end
+
         if config[:aws]
           creds = resolve_aws_credentials(config)
           region = config[:aws_region]
diff --git a/ee/spec/lib/gitlab/elastic/client_spec.rb b/ee/spec/lib/gitlab/elastic/client_spec.rb
index e7c2bfe7486862c51e0131d7aa17224e3b0ce176..f84c0dedd5d962c6cba126bd5bbd3e0cbaeb5e87 100644
--- a/ee/spec/lib/gitlab/elastic/client_spec.rb
+++ b/ee/spec/lib/gitlab/elastic/client_spec.rb
@@ -41,11 +41,29 @@
         expect(client.transport.transport.options).to include(debug: true, log: true)
       end
 
-      context 'with typhoeus adapter for keep-alive connections' do
-        it 'sets typhoeus as the adapter' do
+      it 'sets typhoeus as the adapter' do
+        options = client.transport.transport.options
+
+        expect(options).to include(adapter: :typhoeus)
+      end
+
+      it 'sets adapter_options' do
+        options = client.transport.transport.options
+
+        expect(options.keys).to include(:adapter_options)
+        expect(options[:adapter_options].keys).to match_array(%i[maxconnects max_total_connections
+          timeout connecttimeout tcp_keepalive tcp_keepidle tcp_keepintvl maxage httpheader])
+      end
+
+      context 'when search_client_adapter_options flag is false' do
+        before do
+          stub_feature_flags(search_client_adapter_options: false)
+        end
+
+        it 'does not set adapter_options' do
           options = client.transport.transport.options
 
-          expect(options).to include(adapter: :typhoeus)
+          expect(options.keys).not_to include(:adapter_options)
         end
       end