Mideast Stocks: Most Gulf markets rise in early trade

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Most stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Wednesday, with financial shares boosting the Dubai Index.

Dubai's main share index rose 1%, on track to end three sessions of losses, with the country's largest sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank gaining 2.6%, while Emirates NBD Bank was up 1%.

The Abu Dhabi index added 0.5%, helped by a 0.7% rise in Emirates Telecommunications and a 0.4% increase in First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

FAB, the United Arab Emirates' largest lender, has hired banks to arrange an investor call ahead of an issuance of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds, a document showed.

The planned Additional Tier 1 perpetual bonds are not callable for six years, the document showed.

In Qatar, the index firmed 0.3%, helped by a 2.7% jump in United Development Company.

** Saudi Arabia was closed for a public holiday.

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter)