In Dubai, the benchmark index edged up 0.2%, supported by a 2.6% rise in Emirates NBD Bank. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell 0.4%, with oil giant Saudi Aramco losing 0.8% and Saudi Arabian Mining Co sliding 3.3%.
Aramco is about to finalise a $10 billion loan with a group of roughly 10 banks as the world's largest oil producer seeks cash amid record low oil prices, Reuters reported citing three sources familiar with the matter.
Aramco is raising the loan to back its acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC) from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a deal worth almost $70 billion. SABIC was up 0.1%.
Elsewhere, Arab Sea Information System dropped 4.9% after it posted losses in the first quarter of 2020. The Qatari index was up 0.5%, as Qatar Islamic Bank added 0.9%.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index declined 1.1% as most of the stocks on the index were in the red, including tobacco monopoly Eastern Company, which was down 1%.