Major stock markets in the Gulf closed mixed on Tuesday, with petrochemical shares boosting the Qatari index.

In Qatar, the benchmark rose 0.6%, led by a 2.9% increase in Industries Qatar, extending gains from the previous session when the petrochemical maker reported a higher net profit for the quarter ended March 31. 

Mesaieed Petrochemical jumped 4.2%, ahead of its first-quarter earnings announcement.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index finished 0.4% higher, with Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services advancing 3.6% and Saudi National Bank (SNB) rising 1.3%.

SNB, the kingdom's largest lender, posted a 20.3% rise in first-quarter net profit on Monday with lower impairments and higher fees, in a sign that the economy has been recovering from last year's pandemic lockdowns. 

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had intercepted an explosive-laden boat off the Red Sea port of Yanbu after maritime security firms cited "unconfirmed reports" of an attack on a vessel in the area. 

In Dubai, the main share index fell 0.6%, hit by a 1.3% fall in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 1.1% decrease in sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank.

Among others, Islamic Arab Insurance dived some 10%, its biggest intraday fall since March last year, as the insurer went ex-dividend.

The Abu Dhabi index lost 0.4%, with telecoms giant Etisalat sliding 1.3%, while Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) retreated 1%.

ADCB, the United Arab Emirates' third-biggest lender, gained over 2% on Monday a day after it reported soaring profit as it recovers from impairments linked to troubled hospital operator NMC Health. 

However, the index saw some support from Emirates Driving Company DRIVE.AD , which soared 9.4% after the firm announced establishment of a new branch with an investment of about 22 million dirhams ($5.99 million). 

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index rebounded 0.4%, with top lender Commercial International Bank rising 1.5%.

($1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham)

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams) ((AteeqUr.Shariff@thomsonreuters.com; +918061822788;))