Mideast stocks opened lower on Monday as investors worried about reports the United States was preparing a new round of tariffs on Chinese imports.
Such a move would set up a possible escalation in the trade dispute between the two world powers.
After closing at a new six-month low on Sunday, stocks in Saudi Arabia failed to recover on Monday.
The Saudi index slid 0.7 per cent in early trading. Saudi Basic Industries Corp, the largest listed company in the Gulf, opened 1.7 per cent down, with Al Rajhi Bank falling 0.9 per cent.
Gulf markets followed the earlier slide in Asian shares, reports Reuters.
US President Donald Trump is likely to announce new tariffs on about $200 billion of Chinese imports as early as Monday, a senior administration official told Reuters.
In Dubai, Emaar Properties sank 2.1 per cent, reversing an earlier gain.
The Abu Dhabi index was 0.9 per cent down. First Abu Dhabi Bank fell 1.4 percent, while Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank dropped by the same amount.
The Qatar index sank by 0.6 per cent. Qatar National Bank, the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, dipped by 1.4 per cent, while Industries Qatar fell 1.1 per cent.