diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/table.tsx b/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/table.tsx
index b77f1c5f63183..5d7c1f29ed791 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/table.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/table.tsx
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ export function SearchSessionsMgmtTable({
     () => moment.duration(config.management.refreshInterval).asMilliseconds(),
     [config.management.refreshInterval]
   );
+  const enableOpeningInNewTab = useMemo(
+    () => core.featureFlags.getBooleanValue('discover.tabsEnabled', false),
+    [core.featureFlags]
+  );
 
   const { pageSize, sorting, onTableChange } = useEuiTablePersist<UISession>({
     tableId: 'searchSessionsMgmt',
@@ -111,7 +115,12 @@ export function SearchSessionsMgmtTable({
       try {
         const { savedObjects, statuses } = await api.fetchTableData({ appId });
         results = savedObjects.map((savedObject) =>
-          mapToUISession({ savedObject, locators, sessionStatuses: statuses })
+          mapToUISession({
+            savedObject,
+            locators,
+            sessionStatuses: statuses,
+            enableOpeningInNewTab,
+          })
         );
       } catch (e) {} // eslint-disable-line no-empty
 
@@ -125,7 +134,7 @@ export function SearchSessionsMgmtTable({
       if (refreshTimeoutRef.current) clearTimeout(refreshTimeoutRef.current);
       refreshTimeoutRef.current = window.setTimeout(doRefresh, refreshInterval);
     }
-  }, [api, refreshInterval, locators, appId]);
+  }, [api, refreshInterval, locators, appId, enableOpeningInNewTab]);
 
   // initial data load
   useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/utils/map_to_ui_session.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/utils/map_to_ui_session.ts
index 72656e06e1703..4fdbec5b06758 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/utils/map_to_ui_session.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/data/public/search/session/sessions_mgmt/components/table/utils/map_to_ui_session.ts
@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ export const mapToUISession = ({
   locators,
   sessionStatuses,
   actions: filteredActions,
+  enableOpeningInNewTab,
 }: {
   savedObject: SearchSessionSavedObject;
   locators: LocatorsStart;
   sessionStatuses: SearchSessionsFindResponse['statuses'];
   actions?: ACTION[];
+  enableOpeningInNewTab?: boolean;
 }): UISession => {
   const {
     name,
@@ -59,7 +61,16 @@ export const mapToUISession = ({
   if (initialState) delete initialState.searchSessionId;
   // derive the URL and add it in
   const reloadUrl = getUrlFromState(locators, locatorId, initialState);
-  const restoreUrl = getUrlFromState(locators, locatorId, restoreState);
+  const restoreUrl = getUrlFromState(
+    locators,
+    locatorId,
+    enableOpeningInNewTab
+      ? {
+          ...restoreState,
+          tab: { id: 'new', label: name },
+        }
+      : restoreState
+  );
 
   return {
     id: savedObject.id,
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.test.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.test.ts
index 22309b7e3a270..8f45aa25ba6fc 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.test.ts
@@ -236,6 +236,30 @@ describe('Discover url generator', () => {
     expect(path).toContain('__test__');
   });
 
+  test('can specify a tab id', async () => {
+    const { locator } = await setup();
+    const { path } = await locator.getLocation({
+      tab: { id: '__test__' },
+    });
+
+    expect(path).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"#/?_tab=(tabId:__test__)"`);
+  });
+
+  test('can specify to open in a new tab', async () => {
+    const { locator } = await setup();
+    const { path } = await locator.getLocation({
+      tab: { id: 'new', label: 'My new tab' },
+      query: {
+        esql: 'SELECT * FROM test',
+      },
+      searchSessionId: '__test__',
+    });
+
+    expect(path).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
+      `"#/?searchSessionId=__test__&_a=(dataSource:(type:esql),query:(esql:'SELECT%20*%20FROM%20test'))&_tab=(tabId:new,tabLabel:'My%20new%20tab')"`
+    );
+  });
+
   test('can specify columns, grid, interval, sort and savedQuery', async () => {
     const { locator } = await setup();
     const { path } = await locator.getLocation({
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.ts
index d2a73ee6b5ab7..5fcebaaace68e 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import type { RefreshInterval } from '@kbn/data-plugin/public';
 import type { LocatorDefinition, LocatorPublic } from '@kbn/share-plugin/public';
 import type { DiscoverGridSettings } from '@kbn/saved-search-plugin/common';
 import type { DataViewSpec } from '@kbn/data-views-plugin/common';
-import type { VIEW_MODE } from './constants';
+import type { VIEW_MODE, NEW_TAB_ID } from './constants';
 
 export const DISCOVER_APP_LOCATOR = 'DISCOVER_APP_LOCATOR';
 
@@ -65,6 +65,13 @@ export interface DiscoverAppLocatorParams extends SerializableRecord {
    */
   searchSessionId?: string;
 
+  /**
+   * Optionally set Discover tab state.
+   * Use `new` as value for `id` to indicate that a new tab should be created.
+   * Once created, the new tab will have a unique id which can be referenced too if necessary.
+   */
+  tab?: { id: typeof NEW_TAB_ID; label?: string } | { id: string };
+
   /**
    * Columns displayed in the table
    */
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator_get_location.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator_get_location.ts
index 1233f2b97f8e4..56ac905e364fe 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator_get_location.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/app_locator_get_location.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@ import type { setStateToKbnUrl as setStateToKbnUrlCommon } from '@kbn/kibana-uti
 import type { DiscoverAppLocatorGetLocation, MainHistoryLocationState } from './app_locator';
 import type { DiscoverAppState } from '../public';
 import { createDataViewDataSource, createEsqlDataSource } from './data_sources';
-import { APP_STATE_URL_KEY } from './constants';
+import {
+  APP_STATE_URL_KEY,
+  GLOBAL_STATE_URL_KEY,
+  NEW_TAB_ID,
+  TAB_STATE_URL_KEY,
+} from './constants';
 
 export const appLocatorGetLocationCommon = async (
   {
@@ -45,6 +50,7 @@ export const appLocatorGetLocationCommon = async (
     hideAggregatedPreview,
     breakdownField,
     isAlertResults,
+    tab,
   } = params;
   const savedSearchPath = savedSearchId ? `view/${encodeURIComponent(savedSearchId)}` : '';
   const appState: Partial<DiscoverAppState> = {};
@@ -79,13 +85,27 @@ export const appLocatorGetLocationCommon = async (
   }
 
   if (Object.keys(queryState).length) {
-    path = setStateToKbnUrl<GlobalQueryStateFromUrl>('_g', queryState, { useHash }, path);
+    path = setStateToKbnUrl<GlobalQueryStateFromUrl>(
+      GLOBAL_STATE_URL_KEY,
+      queryState,
+      { useHash },
+      path
+    );
   }
 
   if (Object.keys(appState).length) {
     path = setStateToKbnUrl(APP_STATE_URL_KEY, appState, { useHash }, path);
   }
 
+  if (tab?.id) {
+    path = setStateToKbnUrl(
+      TAB_STATE_URL_KEY,
+      { tabId: tab.id, tabLabel: tab.id === NEW_TAB_ID && 'label' in tab ? tab.label : undefined },
+      { useHash },
+      path
+    );
+  }
+
   return {
     app: 'discover',
     path,
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/constants.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/constants.ts
index 345f64bdc8e2d..881d257c19cff 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/constants.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/common/constants.ts
@@ -26,12 +26,19 @@ export const getDefaultRowsPerPage = (uiSettings: IUiSettingsClient): number =>
 // local storage key for the ES|QL to Dataviews transition modal
 export const ESQL_TRANSITION_MODAL_KEY = 'data.textLangTransitionModal';
 
+/**
+ * The id value used to indicate that a link should open in a new Discover tab.
+ * It will be used in the `_tab` URL param to indicate that a new tab should be created.
+ * Once created, the new tab will have a unique id.
+ */
+export const NEW_TAB_ID = 'new' as const;
+
 /**
  * The query param key used to store the Discover app state in the URL
  */
 export const APP_STATE_URL_KEY = '_a';
 export const GLOBAL_STATE_URL_KEY = '_g';
-export const TABS_STATE_URL_KEY = '_t';
+export const TAB_STATE_URL_KEY = '_tab'; // `_t` is already used by Kibana for time, so we use `_tab` here
 
 /**
  * Product feature IDs
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/components/top_nav/app_menu_actions/get_share.tsx b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/components/top_nav/app_menu_actions/get_share.tsx
index ae029a0f5b1c4..e704731a6e88f 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/components/top_nav/app_menu_actions/get_share.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/components/top_nav/app_menu_actions/get_share.tsx
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ export const getShareAppMenuItem = ({
       timeRange,
       refreshInterval,
     };
+
+    // TODO: for a persisted saved search, add the current tab ID to the params
     const relativeUrl = locator.getRedirectUrl(params);
 
     // This logic is duplicated from `relativeToAbsolute` (for bundle size reasons). Ultimately, this should be
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/hooks/use_state_managers.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/hooks/use_state_managers.ts
index 186ea50dfd6af..e716763a6b850 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/hooks/use_state_managers.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/hooks/use_state_managers.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const useStateManagers = ({
     TABS_ENABLED_FEATURE_FLAG_KEY,
     false
   );
-  // syncing with the _t part URL
+  // syncing with the _tab part URL
   const [tabsStorageManager] = useState(() =>
     createTabsStorageManager({
       urlStateStorage,
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ export const useStateManagers = ({
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const stopUrlSync = tabsStorageManager.startUrlSync({
-      // if `_t` in URL changes (for example via browser history), try to restore the previous state
+      // if `_tab` in URL changes (for example via browser history), try to restore the previous state
       onChanged: (urlState) => {
         const { tabId: restoreTabId } = urlState;
         if (restoreTabId) {
           internalState.dispatch(internalStateActions.restoreTab({ restoreTabId }));
         } else {
-          // if tabId is not present in `_t`, clear all tabs
+          // if tabId is not present in `_tab`, clear all tabs
           internalState.dispatch(internalStateActions.clearAllTabs());
         }
       },
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/actions/tabs.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/actions/tabs.ts
index 42aa16f0082e4..3f5a294871cbd 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/actions/tabs.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/actions/tabs.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ import {
   selectInitialUnifiedHistogramLayoutPropsMap,
   selectTabRuntimeInternalState,
 } from '../runtime_state';
-import { APP_STATE_URL_KEY, GLOBAL_STATE_URL_KEY } from '../../../../../../common/constants';
+import {
+  APP_STATE_URL_KEY,
+  GLOBAL_STATE_URL_KEY,
+  NEW_TAB_ID,
+} from '../../../../../../common/constants';
 import type { DiscoverAppState } from '../../discover_app_state_container';
 import { createInternalStateAsyncThunk, createTabItem } from '../utils';
 import { setBreadcrumbs } from '../../../../../utils/breadcrumbs';
@@ -113,6 +117,20 @@ export const updateTabs: InternalStateThunkActionCreator<[TabbedContentState], P
       };
 
       if (!existingTab) {
+        // the following assignments for initialAppState, globalState, and dataRequestParams are for supporting `openInNewTab` action
+        tab.initialAppState =
+          'initialAppState' in item
+            ? cloneDeep(item.initialAppState as TabState['initialAppState'])
+            : tab.initialAppState;
+        tab.globalState =
+          'globalState' in item
+            ? cloneDeep(item.globalState as TabState['globalState'])
+            : tab.globalState;
+        tab.dataRequestParams =
+          'dataRequestParams' in item
+            ? (item.dataRequestParams as TabState['dataRequestParams'])
+            : tab.dataRequestParams;
+
         if (item.duplicatedFromId) {
           // the new tab was created by duplicating an existing tab
           const existingTabToDuplicateFrom = selectTab(currentState, item.duplicatedFromId);
@@ -288,7 +306,9 @@ export const restoreTab: InternalStateThunkActionCreator<[{ restoreTabId: string
   (dispatch, getState) => {
     const currentState = getState();
 
-    if (restoreTabId === currentState.tabs.unsafeCurrentId) {
+    // Restoring the 'new' tab ID is a no-op because it represents a placeholder for creating new tabs,
+    // not an actual tab that can be restored.
+    if (restoreTabId === currentState.tabs.unsafeCurrentId || restoreTabId === NEW_TAB_ID) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -318,6 +338,46 @@ export const restoreTab: InternalStateThunkActionCreator<[{ restoreTabId: string
     );
   };
 
+export const openInNewTab: InternalStateThunkActionCreator<
+  [
+    {
+      tabLabel?: string;
+      appState?: TabState['initialAppState'];
+      globalState?: TabState['globalState'];
+      searchSessionId?: string;
+    }
+  ]
+> =
+  ({ tabLabel, appState, globalState, searchSessionId }) =>
+  (dispatch, getState) => {
+    const initialAppState = appState ? cloneDeep(appState) : undefined;
+    const initialGlobalState = globalState ? cloneDeep(globalState) : {};
+    const currentState = getState();
+    const currentTabs = selectAllTabs(currentState);
+
+    const newDefaultTab: TabState = {
+      ...DEFAULT_TAB_STATE,
+      ...createTabItem(currentTabs),
+      initialAppState,
+      globalState: initialGlobalState,
+    };
+
+    if (tabLabel) {
+      newDefaultTab.label = tabLabel;
+    }
+
+    if (searchSessionId) {
+      newDefaultTab.dataRequestParams = {
+        ...newDefaultTab.dataRequestParams,
+        searchSessionId,
+      };
+    }
+
+    return dispatch(
+      updateTabs({ items: [...currentTabs, newDefaultTab], selectedItem: newDefaultTab })
+    );
+  };
+
 export const disconnectTab: InternalStateThunkActionCreator<[TabActionPayload]> =
   ({ tabId }) =>
   (_, __, { runtimeStateManager }) => {
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/index.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/index.ts
index 48ea85c750bd2..e740f2dbc9562 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/index.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/index.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   updateTabs,
   disconnectTab,
   restoreTab,
+  openInNewTab,
   clearAllTabs,
   initializeTabs,
   saveDiscoverSession,
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ export const internalStateActions = {
   initializeSingleTab,
   syncLocallyPersistedTabState,
   restoreTab,
+  openInNewTab,
   clearAllTabs,
   initializeTabs,
   saveDiscoverSession,
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/internal_state.test.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/internal_state.test.ts
index 9711f01ba75e5..27405a98ee844 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/internal_state.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/redux/internal_state.test.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { createKbnUrlStateStorage } from '@kbn/kibana-utils-plugin/public';
 import { createTabsStorageManager } from '../tabs_storage_manager';
 
 describe('InternalStateStore', () => {
-  it('should set data view', async () => {
+  const createTestStore = async () => {
     const services = createDiscoverServicesMock();
     const urlStateStorage = createKbnUrlStateStorage();
     const runtimeStateManager = createRuntimeStateManager();
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ describe('InternalStateStore', () => {
       tabsStorageManager,
     });
     await store.dispatch(internalStateActions.initializeTabs({ discoverSessionId: undefined }));
+
+    return { store, runtimeStateManager };
+  };
+
+  it('should set data view', async () => {
+    const { store, runtimeStateManager } = await createTestStore();
     const tabId = store.getState().tabs.unsafeCurrentId;
     expect(
       selectTabRuntimeState(runtimeStateManager, tabId).currentDataView$.value
@@ -45,4 +51,37 @@ describe('InternalStateStore', () => {
       dataViewMock
     );
   });
+
+  it('should append a new tab to the tabs list', async () => {
+    const { store } = await createTestStore();
+    const initialTabId = store.getState().tabs.unsafeCurrentId;
+    expect(store.getState().tabs.allIds).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(store.getState().tabs.unsafeCurrentId).toBe(initialTabId);
+    const params = {
+      tabLabel: 'New tab',
+      searchSessionId: 'session_123',
+      appState: {
+        query: { query: 'test this', language: 'kuery' },
+      },
+      globalState: {
+        timeRange: {
+          from: '2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+          to: '2024-01-02T00:00:00.000Z',
+        },
+      },
+    };
+    await store.dispatch(internalStateActions.openInNewTab(params));
+    const tabsState = store.getState().tabs;
+    expect(tabsState.allIds).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(tabsState.unsafeCurrentId).not.toBe(initialTabId);
+    expect(tabsState.unsafeCurrentId).toBe(tabsState.allIds[1]);
+    expect(tabsState.byId[tabsState.unsafeCurrentId].label).toBe(params.tabLabel);
+    expect(tabsState.byId[tabsState.unsafeCurrentId].initialAppState).toEqual(params.appState);
+    expect(tabsState.byId[tabsState.unsafeCurrentId].globalState).toEqual(params.globalState);
+    expect(tabsState.byId[tabsState.unsafeCurrentId].dataRequestParams).toEqual({
+      searchSessionId: params.searchSessionId,
+      timeRangeAbsolute: undefined,
+      timeRangeRelative: undefined,
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.test.tsx b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.test.tsx
index 8a0caac4cfa1d..1d309b15f5896 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.test.tsx
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.test.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   type TabsInternalStatePayload,
 } from './tabs_storage_manager';
 import type { RecentlyClosedTabState, TabState } from './redux/types';
-import { TABS_STATE_URL_KEY } from '../../../../common/constants';
+import { TAB_STATE_URL_KEY } from '../../../../common/constants';
 import { DEFAULT_TAB_STATE, fromSavedSearchToSavedObjectTab } from './redux';
 import {
   getRecentlyClosedTabStateMock,
@@ -152,7 +152,11 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
 
     await tabsStorageManager.persistLocally(props, mockGetAppState, mockGetInternalState);
 
-    expect(urlStateStorage.set).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, { tabId: 'tab1' });
+    expect(urlStateStorage.set).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      TAB_STATE_URL_KEY,
+      { tabId: 'tab1' },
+      { replace: false }
+    );
     expect(storage.set).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY, {
       userId: mockUserId,
       spaceId: mockSpaceId,
@@ -177,7 +181,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: 'tab2',
     });
 
@@ -195,7 +199,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       selectedTabId: 'tab2',
       recentlyClosedTabs: [toRestoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
-    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY);
     expect(storage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY);
     expect(urlStateStorage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(storage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -224,7 +228,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       ],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: mockRecentlyClosedTab2.id,
     });
 
@@ -251,7 +255,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
         toRestoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab2),
       ],
     });
-    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY);
     expect(storage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY);
     expect(urlStateStorage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(storage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -279,7 +283,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: props.selectedTabId,
     });
 
@@ -300,7 +304,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       })
     );
     expect(loadedProps.selectedTabId).toBe(loadedProps.allTabs[0].id);
-    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY);
     expect(storage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY);
     expect(urlStateStorage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(storage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -325,7 +329,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, null);
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, null);
 
     jest.spyOn(urlStateStorage, 'set');
     jest.spyOn(storage, 'set');
@@ -352,7 +356,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       })
     );
     expect(loadedProps.selectedTabId).toBe(loadedProps.allTabs[0].id);
-    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY);
     expect(storage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY);
     expect(urlStateStorage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(storage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -526,7 +530,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: mockTab2.id,
     });
 
@@ -562,7 +566,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: mockTab1.id,
     });
 
@@ -606,7 +610,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: 'bad-tab',
     });
 
@@ -650,7 +654,7 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
       closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
     });
 
-    urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
       tabId: mockRecentlyClosedTab.id,
     });
 
@@ -679,4 +683,50 @@ describe('TabsStorageManager', () => {
     expect(loadedProps.selectedTabId).toBe(persistedTabId);
     expect(loadedProps.allTabs.find((t) => t.id === mockTab1.id)).toBeUndefined();
   });
+
+  it('should load tabs state from local storage and append a new tab', () => {
+    const {
+      tabsStorageManager,
+      urlStateStorage,
+      services: { storage },
+    } = create();
+    jest.spyOn(urlStateStorage, 'get');
+    jest.spyOn(storage, 'get');
+
+    storage.set(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY, {
+      userId: mockUserId,
+      spaceId: mockSpaceId,
+      openTabs: [toStoredTab(mockTab1), toStoredTab(mockTab2)],
+      closedTabs: [toStoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)],
+    });
+
+    urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, {
+      tabId: 'new',
+      tabLabel: 'New tab test',
+    });
+
+    jest.spyOn(urlStateStorage, 'set');
+    jest.spyOn(storage, 'set');
+
+    const loadedProps = tabsStorageManager.loadLocally({
+      userId: mockUserId,
+      spaceId: mockSpaceId,
+      defaultTabState: DEFAULT_TAB_STATE,
+    });
+
+    expect(loadedProps.recentlyClosedTabs).toEqual([toRestoredTab(mockRecentlyClosedTab)]);
+    expect(loadedProps.allTabs).toHaveLength(3);
+    expect(loadedProps.allTabs[0]).toEqual(toRestoredTab(mockTab1));
+    expect(loadedProps.allTabs[1]).toEqual(toRestoredTab(mockTab2));
+    expect(loadedProps.allTabs[2]).toEqual(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        label: 'New tab test',
+      })
+    );
+    expect(loadedProps.selectedTabId).toBe(loadedProps.allTabs[2].id);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY);
+    expect(storage.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TABS_LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY);
+    expect(urlStateStorage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(storage.set).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.ts b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.ts
index b69a8fa0b1af3..25d75c9fa42ca 100644
--- a/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.ts
+++ b/src/platform/plugins/shared/discover/public/application/main/state_management/tabs_storage_manager.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {
 import type { TabItem } from '@kbn/unified-tabs';
 import type { Storage } from '@kbn/kibana-utils-plugin/public';
 import type { DiscoverSession } from '@kbn/saved-search-plugin/common';
-import { TABS_STATE_URL_KEY } from '../../../../common/constants';
+import { TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, NEW_TAB_ID } from '../../../../common/constants';
 import type { TabState, RecentlyClosedTabState } from './redux/types';
 import { createTabItem } from './redux/utils';
 import type { DiscoverAppState } from './discover_app_state_container';
@@ -57,7 +57,14 @@ export interface TabsInternalStatePayload {
 }
 
 export interface TabsUrlState {
-  tabId?: string; // syncing the selected tab id with the URL
+  /**
+   * Syncing the selected tab id with the URL
+   */
+  tabId?: string;
+  /**
+   * (Optional) Label for the tab, used when creating a new tab via locator URL.
+   */
+  tabLabel?: string;
 }
 
 export interface TabsStorageManager {
@@ -123,7 +130,7 @@ export const createTabsStorageManager = ({
           }
         },
       },
-      storageKey: TABS_STATE_URL_KEY,
+      storageKey: TAB_STATE_URL_KEY,
     });
 
     const listener = onChanged
@@ -140,15 +147,19 @@ export const createTabsStorageManager = ({
     };
   };
 
-  const getSelectedTabIdFromURL = () => {
-    return (urlStateStorage.get(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY) as TabsUrlState)?.tabId;
+  const getTabsStateFromURL = () => {
+    return urlStateStorage.get(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY) as TabsUrlState;
   };
 
   const pushSelectedTabIdToUrl = async (selectedTabId: string) => {
     const nextState: TabsUrlState = {
       tabId: selectedTabId,
     };
-    await urlStateStorage.set(TABS_STATE_URL_KEY, nextState);
+    const previousState = getTabsStateFromURL();
+    // If the previous tab was a "new" (unsaved) tab, we replace the URL state instead of pushing a new history entry.
+    // This prevents cluttering the browser history with intermediate "new tab" states that are not meaningful to the user.
+    const shouldReplace = previousState?.tabId === NEW_TAB_ID;
+    await urlStateStorage.set(TAB_STATE_URL_KEY, nextState, { replace: shouldReplace });
   };
 
   const toTabStateInStorage = (
@@ -359,7 +370,8 @@ export const createTabsStorageManager = ({
     persistedDiscoverSession,
     defaultTabState,
   }) => {
-    const selectedTabId = enabled ? getSelectedTabIdFromURL() : undefined;
+    const tabsStateFromURL = getTabsStateFromURL();
+    const selectedTabId = enabled ? tabsStateFromURL?.tabId : undefined;
     let storedTabsState: TabsStateInLocalStorage = enabled
       ? readFromLocalStorage()
       : defaultTabsStateInLocalStorage;
@@ -389,6 +401,25 @@ export const createTabsStorageManager = ({
     );
 
     if (enabled && selectedTabId) {
+      if (selectedTabId === NEW_TAB_ID) {
+        // append a new tab if requested via URL
+
+        const newTab = {
+          ...defaultTabState,
+          ...createTabItem(openTabs),
+        };
+
+        if (tabsStateFromURL?.tabLabel) {
+          newTab.label = tabsStateFromURL.tabLabel;
+        }
+
+        return {
+          allTabs: [...openTabs, newTab],
+          selectedTabId: newTab.id,
+          recentlyClosedTabs: closedTabs,
+        };
+      }
+
       // restore previously opened tabs
       if (openTabs.find((tab) => tab.id === selectedTabId)) {
         return {
@@ -414,17 +445,21 @@ export const createTabsStorageManager = ({
       }
     }
 
-    const defaultTab = persistedTabs
-      ? persistedTabs[0]
-      : {
-          ...defaultTabState,
-          ...createTabItem([]),
-        };
-    const allTabs = persistedTabs ?? [defaultTab];
+    const newDefaultTab = {
+      ...defaultTabState,
+      ...createTabItem([]),
+    };
+    let allTabs = [newDefaultTab];
+    let selectedTab = newDefaultTab;
+
+    if (persistedTabs?.length) {
+      allTabs = persistedTabs;
+      selectedTab = persistedTabs[0];
+    }
 
     return {
       allTabs,
-      selectedTabId: defaultTab.id,
+      selectedTabId: selectedTab.id,
       recentlyClosedTabs: getNRecentlyClosedTabs(closedTabs, openTabs),
     };
   };