Most Persian Gulf bourses fell on Iran-US tensions; Dubai posted its biggest weekly drop in four months

Most Persian Gulf stock markets fell last week under pressure from the escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States. Saudi Arabia's benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) slipped about 0.8 percent for a fourth straight weekly decline, Dubai's main index dropped 3.8 percent for its biggest weekly fall in four months, and Abu Dhabi's index lost 1.6 percent. Qatar's index recovered slightly, edging up 0.2 percent.

According to Zawya (citing Reuters), the main driver was a fresh round of US strikes on Iran and attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, which made regional investors cautious, while oil prices stayed high on supply-disruption concerns.

The geographic proximity of these markets to Iran and their shared dependence on Strait of Hormuz oil transit also make them a gauge of regional risk for Iranian investors.