Summary：**Gulf Stock Markets Tumble as US‑Iran Strikes Heighten Regional Fear****Introduction** Escalating

referrerpolicy="no-referrer"
style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;">

**Gulf Stock Markets Tumble as US‑Iran Strikes Heighten Regional Fear**

**Introduction**
Escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran have sent shockwaves through the Gulf’s financial centers, pushing major indices lower as investors brace for a broader regional fallout. The latest exchange of strikes—Washington’s precision strikes on Iranian‑backed militia sites and Tehran’s retaliatory missile launches—has revived fears of a protracted conflict that could disrupt oil flows, unsettle currency markets, and test the resilience of emerging crypto‑asset channels used for cross‑border finance.

**Key Developments**
On Monday, the Saudi Tadawul All‑Share Index slipped 2.3%, while Dubai’s DFM General Index dropped 1.9% and Qatar’s QE Index fell 1.7%. Trading volumes surged as market participants reacted to headlines detailing the latest round of strikes, which followed a series of tit‑for‑tat exchanges over the past week. Brent crude jumped over 4% to $89 per barrel, reflecting concerns that shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz could face intermittent disruptions. Meanwhile, Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies showed mixed performance, with BTC edging up 0.8% as some traders viewed digital assets as a hedge against geopolitical risk, while altcoins faced sell‑offs amid heightened risk aversion.

**Industry Analysis