DUBAI: Middle Eastern stock markets were mixed on Monday, as oil prices dipped, with Egypt’s blue-chip index tumbling more than 1% to mark its steepest fall in nearly three weeks.

Oil prices fell as signs of a progress in the US-Iran nuclear talks that could lead to removal of US sanctions on Iranian oil sales offset concerns about the tight supplies.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index fell 1.2%, marking its biggest fall since Jan 19.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index closed 0.4% higher, boosted by material and energy stocks.

Dubai’s main share index ended up 0.6%, driven by index heavyweight Emirates NBD Bank and Dubai Investments PJSC.

Shares of Dubai Islamic Bank gained 0.5% after a document showed the United Arab Emirates’ largest Islamic lender has hired banks to arrange a sale of five-year US dollar-denominated sukuk.

In Abu Dhabi, the index was flat.

The Qatari index ended 0.04% lower, after rising for the five straight sessions, as losses in energy stocks offset gains in utilities.

SAUDI ARABIA up 0.4% to 12,249

ABU DHABI ended flat at 8,734

DUBAI added 0.6% to 3,188

QATAR ended flat at 12,672

EGYPT dips 1.2% to 11,548

BAHRAIN was up 0.4% to 1,841

OMAN was flat at 4,133

KUWAIT ended flat at 8,04.