Most Gulf bourses ease amid escalating US-Iran hostilities
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz near the beach of Bandar Abbas, Iran, September 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab Sept 10 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf stock markets fell in early trade on Thursday, as escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran fuelled concerns about potential disruptions across vital regional energy corridors. The decline followed the fiercest maritime confrontation of the six-month conflict, after Iran struck 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the U.S. sinking five Iranian tankers. Sign up here. The attacks prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to caution Tehran with threats of strikes against Iran's Pickaxe Mountain. The escalation has heightened concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy-trade chokepoint, while Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia have also raised risks to alternative export routes via the Red Sea. Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles and drones at the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, and Jazan on Wednesday, in what the Saudi-led coalition confirmed was their second straight day of attacks. Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI) , opens new tab fell 0.2%, with a 1.1% slide in Sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank (DISB.DU) , opens new tab . In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI) , opens new tab eased 0.1%. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) , opens new tab , however, gained 0.3%, helped by a 0.5% gain in Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) , opens new tab . Oil major Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) , opens new tab added 0.2%. Brent crude futures were up 0.1% at $101.29 a barrel by 0752 GMT. The Qatari index (.QSI) , opens new tab lost 0.2%, with the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA) , opens new tab retreating 0.8%. Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen Soreng Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: Middle East X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights