UAE Stocks Close Week in Red as Investors Weigh US-Iran Deal Prospects

07:42 AM EDT, 09/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Shares trading in the United Arab Emirates ended Friday muted, finishing slightly in the red despite renewed hopes of a potential agreement between the US and Iran to resume energy flows. At the close of trading, the country's two benchmark indices, the FTSE ADX General Index and the DFM General Index, were little changed at 0.051% and 0.046% in the red, respectively. Oil prices eased after media reports stated that the US and Iran are discussing a phased deal that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Brent crude oil futures were trading at nearly $105.15 per barrel as of 3:26 pm UAE time, down 1.36% from the previous day. "The flurry of diplomatic activity at the opening of the UN General Assembly, including a multi-hour meeting between US Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has unleashed yet another wave of Iran deal optimism despite clear divisions remaining in the negotiating positions," RBC Capital Markets said. "It is also worth remembering who is not in the ornate New York meetings and ballrooms this week, and that ultimately the IRGC hardliners around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei could veto any deal inked by the civilians in government." Back home, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange joined the SWIFT network to enable secure financial messaging with market participants, improve cross-border interactions, and bolster connectivity with the global financial ecosystem. Turning to corporate news, Emirates Telecommunications Group (ADX:EAND), d/b/a e&, lost 0.09% at closing. The telecommunications company launched its continuously monitored secure website hosting service for governments and businesses seeking to monitor performance and health and identify risks and threats to their websites. Over in Dubai, Al Mazaya Holding (DFM:MAZAYA) secured approval from Kuwait's Capital Markets Authority to increase its capital to 53.4 million Kuwaiti dinars as part of its merger with Waterfront Real Estate Co.