Dubai: Most Gulf stock markets closed lower today as renewed Middle East tensions weighed on investor confidence. Dubai's main index fell 0.6 percent, dragged down by a 1.5 percent drop in Emirates NBD and a 0.9 percent decline in Emaar Properties. Abu Dhabi's benchmark slid 1.4 percent, with International Holding Company losing 1.4 percent and Aldar Properties edging down 0.1 percent. The Qatari index dropped 2.1 percent, pressured by a 3.8 percent fall in petrochemical producer Industries Qatar.
According to Oman News Agency, Saudi Arabia's index rose 0.4 percent, supported by a 1.5 percent gain in Saudi National Bank, the kingdom's largest lender by assets. Oil giant Saudi Aramco gained 0.6 percent as crude prices rose, with Brent futures climbing $1.01, or 1.2 percent, to $94.19 a barrel. Kuwait's benchmark rose 1.3 percent, while Oman's index added 1.0 percent. Bahrain's index slipped 0.3 percent. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index lost 0.5 percent.