Persian Gulf bourses fall on Monday as tensions escalate; Dubai index down 1.4 percent

Stock markets in the Persian Gulf states were mostly lower on Monday, July 13, 2026, amid the exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran and concern over disruption to the Strait of Hormuz. Dubai's main index fell 1.4 percent, dragged by a 2.6 percent slide in Emirates NBD, the emirate's largest bank, and a 1.4 percent drop in developer Emaar Properties. Abu Dhabi's index fell 0.5 percent and Saudi Arabia's benchmark lost 0.2 percent, with oil major Saudi Aramco down 0.5 percent.

The declines came as Brent crude jumped more than 4 percent to around $79 a barrel. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes, is at the center of the tensions.