International oil prices continue to weaken, putting pressure on financial markets in the Gulf region. On December 25th, the stock indices of Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar all experienced slight declines, with some banking, real estate, and energy sector stocks performing weaker. During the Christmas holiday period, foreign participation was insufficient, and market trading also appeared somewhat subdued.

More notably, the predicament of oil prices themselves is worth attention. The previous trading day saw oil prices close slightly lower, and the overall performance for the year has recorded the most severe decline since 2020. For Gulf countries that are highly dependent on energy export revenues, the pressure on financial markets is a natural consequence.

However, not all markets are declining. Kuwait and Oman’s stock markets have instead slightly risen, indicating that there are still structural opportunities within this adjustment. Traders can continue to observe the subsequent performance of these markets, as well as whether international oil prices can stabilize.