UAE Stocks End Christmas Day Lower; Gulf Navigation Gains

06:31 AM EST, 12/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Markets in the United Arab Emirates ended Thursday's trading session in the red as investors remained cautious amid geopolitical jitters and fluctuating oil prices. As trading volumes remained thin due to the Christmas holiday in most markets, the FTSE ADX General Index was little changed at 0.066% in the red, while the DFM General Index lost 0.364% at closing. As tensions with Russia continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Chinese satellites are being used by Russians in their recent attacks. "Unfortunately, there have been correlations between Chinese satellite imaging of Ukrainian territory and Russian strikes on the corresponding energy infrastructure facilities. We view such cases as activities that enable Russia to prolong the war and make diplomatic efforts less serious. We will also raise this issue with our partners," Zelenskiy said in a Wednesday post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. On the oil front, prices rose as risks of a disruption in supply remained elevated due to recent geopolitical developments, with Brent crude futures rising 0.04% to $62.264 per barrel at 3:18 pm UAE time on Thursday. Back home and on the corporate side, United Arab Bank (ADX:UAB) shed 3.03%. The lender closed a 1 billion-Emirati-dirham senior unsecured term loan facility with dual tranches to fund general corporate purposes. Over in Dubai, Gulf Navigation (DFM: GULFNAV) was the most traded stock by value and volume and closed 1.48% higher. The maritime and shipping company, via its unit Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investments, launched front-end engineering design work for the naphtha refinery project in Fujairah.