Dubai's stock market fell in early trade on Thursday as all its property shares slipped, while Qatar slid, pressured by its blue-chip financial stocks.

In Dubai, the index lost 0.9 percent, with the emirate's largest listed developer Emaar Properties dropping 2.4 percent, while its unit Emaar Development lost 4.8 percent.

DAMAC Properties was down 3.8 percent.

Emaar Development, Emaar Malls and DAMAC's share performance over the past year sets them up for exclusion from the MSCI Emerging Markets Index in May under the compiler's criteria for membership, which has been weighing on these stocks.

DXB Entertainment slumped 4.9 percent after saying its Six Flags theme park in Dubai had been put on hold as the financing for the project was no longer available.

The move is the latest sign that the Gulf's leading tourism and commerce hotspot is being buffeted by an economic slowdown in the region triggered by lower oil prices and geopolitical tensions.

DXB Entertainment suspending its expansion has caused investors to reduce their exposure, while DAMAC is down on profit-taking, Tariq Qaqish, MD, Asset Management Division, Mena Corp Financial Services, Dubai said.

Qatar's index declined 0.8 percent with Qatar Gas Transport slipping 3 percent and Commercial Bank was down 2 percent.

United Development Company shed 3.7 percent after its full-year profit fell to 501 million Qatar riyals ($137.62 million) from 538 million riyals a year ago.

The Abu Dhabi index was down 0.5 percent, led by a 9.4 percent plunge in Waha Capital. The investment firm reported a full-year net profit of 145 million dirhams ($39.48 million), down from 425.9 million dirhams year ago; it also proposed a 2018 cash dividend of 7.5 percent, down from 15 percent last year.

Saudi Arabia's index was flat, with Advanced Petrochemical rising 2 percent and Riyad Bank adding 0.5 percent.

Middle East Healthcare rose 0.8 percent. The company said its Saudi German hospital project will be completed by June and will not incur any additional costs. ($1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham) ($1 = 3.6405 Qatar riyals)

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff and Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru Editing by Peter Graff) ((AteeqUr.Shariff@thomsonreuters.com; +918067497129;))