Saudi Arabia's main index lifted 0.4%, its seventh straight rise on the back of banks. The index has been up since EFG Hermes forecast the kingdom's financial sector would see 7.6% growth in second-quarter profit, year-on-year .

Al Rajhi Bank gained 0.4%, while National Commercial Bank was up 0.7%.

The Dubai index edged up 0.2% with Emirates NBD  rising 0.9%. DXB Entertainment lifted 1.5%, a day after the theme park company reported 5% growth in second-quarter visits from a year earlier.

Amlak Finance soared 6.5% on a media report that the firm was close to restructuring $1.2 billion of loans with creditors.

In Abu Dhabi, the index added 0.3% driven by the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank, which rose 0.5% and Emirates Telecommunications, which increased 0.4%.

Kuwait's index declined 0.1 - its third straight day of losses, retreating from a spate of gains triggered by MSCI's decision to move Kuwaiti equities to its main emerging-market index in 2020.

The index is still up more than 27% year-to-date, outperforming its Gulf peers.

Qatar's index slid 0.1% with market heavyweight Industries Qatar losing 0.8%. Lender Masraf Al Rayan  was up 0.5% after it posted slightly higher second-quarter profit.