Mideast Stocks: Gulf markets mixed amid geopolitical worries, profit-taking

Commercial International Bank Egypt CIB

15/01/2026 13:32

Updated with closing prices and analyst comment

By Ateeq Shariff

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets closed mixed on Thursday, as investor sentiment was weighed down by uncertainty surrounding the evolving regional geopolitical situation and profit-taking.

The United States is pulling some personnel out of military bases in the Middle East, a U.S. official said Wednesday. That came after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighboring countries it would target U.S. bases if Washington launches strikes.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI dropped 1.2%, snapping a six-day winning streak, with Al Rajhi Bank  1120.SE losing 1.6%.

However, broadened foreign participation rules triggered the recent rebound, additional market reforms could translate into increased foreign inflows, while new state-owned firms' IPOs could draw new investments, said George Pavel, general manager at Naga.com Middle East.

Among other losers, oil behemoth Saudi Aramco 2222.SE eased 0.7%.

Oil prices, a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets, tumbled more than 3% after U.S. President Donald Trump said killings of demonstrators during protests in Iran were ending, easing concerns over military action against Iran and potential oil supply disruptions.

The Qatari index .QSI declined 1.3%, hit by a 2% fall in Qatar Islamic Bank  QISB.QA.

Dubai's main share index .DFMGI finished flat, while the Abu Dhabi index .FTFADGI was up 0.2%.

According to Pavel, the earnings season has the potential to reinforce the positive fundamental narrative, but its impact is constrained to a certain extent by the trajectory of oil prices and the regional geopolitical risk.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 gained 0.7%, with Commercial International Bank  COMI.CA advancing 3.4%.

Saudi Arabia
.TASI dropped 1.2% to 10,818
Abu Dhabi
.FTFADGI added 0.2% to 10,057
Dubai
.DFMGI was flat at 6,262
Qatar
.QSI declined 1.3% to 11,068
Egypt
.EGX30 gained 0.7% to 43,347
Bahrain
.BAX closed flat at 2,045
Oman
.MSX30 rose 0.7% to 6,224
Kuwait
.BKP lost 0.7% to 9,352

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Shilpi Majumdar)

((AteeqUr.Shariff@thomsonreuters.com; +918061822788))