Egypt's index fell on persisting tax concerns while other Gulf Arab markets were mixed.

ADCB jumped 2.7 percent to its highest close since October 2008 after sources said it will not let planned bids by lenders Maybank and CIMB for RHB derail its auction.

Abu Dhabi's index gained 0.5 percent to 2,678 points, rising in six of the past seven sessions.

Property and telecoms stocks also supported.

Etisalat rose 1 percent, Aldar Properties gained 0.7 percent and Sorouh Real Estate climbed 1.5 percent.

Egypt's main index fell fell 0.8 percent to 5,402 points and traders said an assurance from the bourse head that dividend payments of listed firms will be exempted from planned new taxes do little to boost investor confidence.

"Investors are still cautious because, although they confirm an exemption of taxes on paid-out dividends, there is still an indirect bottom-line impact" from the budget, said Cairo-based investment and capital market analyst Nader Khedr.

Commercial International Bank (CIB) fell 1 percent and Citadel Capital dropped 4.3 percent.

Global stocks weighed on Gulf markets with Qatar's index falling to a three-month low, down 0.5 percent to 8,117 points.

Losers outnumbered gainers eight to seven.

Industries Qatar fell 2.7 percent and Qatar Telecom (Qtel) ended 2 percent lower.

Dubai's index slipped 0.2 percent to 1,563 points.

Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia petrochemicals lifted the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) by 0.5 percent to 6,657.63 points, with Sahara Petrochemical surging to a 13-month high.

"We expect (Sahara's) price margins to be quite robust this quarter from a new plant that became commercially operational in April," said Ankit Gupta, senior research analyst at Securities and Investment Co. "There is a high probability Q2 earnings could be dramatically affected and quarter-on-quarter growth will be substantial."

Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals climbed 3 percent and Advanced Petrochemical added 2.9 percent.

Kuwait's benchmark also rose, up 0.4 percent to 6,313 points as banks supported but analysts have a downbeat market outlook.

"People don't have high hopes for the market in general," said a Kuwait-based trader, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It's going to be these levels, 100 points up or down, until September."

National Bank of Kuwait gained 1.7 percent and Gulf Bank rose 1.9 percent.

The Omani index edged 0.01 percent up to 6,043 points.