Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Monday, in line with global shares, while the Dubai index saw its biggest fall in over a month as the United Arab Emirates intercepted another attack by the Houthis.

Dubai's main share indexdeclined 2%, dragged down by a 3.5% drop in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties  and a 1.9% fall in top lender Emirates NBD.

The Abu Dhabi index eased 0.1%, with conglomerate International Holding  losing 0.6%.

"Global markets are set to remain sensitive to fresh policy clues out of the Federal Reserve this week. Since the start of the new year, risk assets have been realigning with the more aggressive Fed rate hikes expected for 2022," said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity Group.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell 0.6%, hit by a 1.3% fall in Al Rajhi Bank and a 2.5% decline in Saudi National Bank.

The Saudi market continued its correction, after hitting its highest in over 15 years earlier this month, as investors try to secure their gains, said Wael Makarem, senior market strategist at Exness.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said two foreigners sustained minor injuries when a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis fell in the south of Saudi Arabia. 

In Qatar, the index added 0.3%, helped by a 4.4% gain in Commercial Bank.

Crude prices, a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets, rose on elevated geopolitical risks in Europe and Middle East. 

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index decreased 0.3%, with Commercial International Bank losing 0.4%.

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru Additional reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo Editing by Mark Potter) ((AteeqUr.Shariff@thomsonreuters.com; +918061822788;))