Mideast Stocks: Most major Gulf markets rise; Qatar eases

Mideast Stocks: Most major Gulf markets rise; Qatar eases

Most major Gulf markets ended higher on Monday, with financial shares boosting the Saudi index, while Qatar bucked the trend to close lower.Saudi Arabia's benchmark index rose 0.6%, extending gains for a third straight session, with Al Rajhi Bank gaining 0.6% and National Commercial Bank, the country's largest lender, advancing 2.7%.The kingdom will partially lift its suspension of international flights as of Sept. 15 to allow "exceptional categories" of citizens and residents to travel, the state news agency SPA said on Sunday.Saudi Arabia will scrap all travel restrictions on air, land and sea transport for citizens on Jan. 1, 2021, the agency added.Dubai's main share index closed up 0.4%, boosted by a 6.5% jump in DAMAC Propertiesand a 0.7% increase in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties.The Abu Dhabi index added 0.1%,