Major stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Thursday, hurt by losses in banking shares, with Dubai stocks falling the most. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index slipped 0.3%, with National Commercial Bank 1180.SE losing 1% and Samba Financial Group shedding 1.2%. The lenders gained in the previous sessions after they entered a binding merger agreement to create a combined entity with 837 billion riyals ($223.15 billion) in assets. Dubai's main share index declined 0.7%, driven down by a 2.4% fall in Emirates NBD Bank and a 1.1% decrease in Emaar Properties. The Abu Dhabi index lost 0.3%, pressured by a 0.7% drop in First Abu Dhabi Bank. The United Arab Emirates' largest lender on Wednesday denied a local news report that said it was in merger talks with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. Shares of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank were up 0.5% on Thursday.