From Atiq Sharif

July 23 (Reuters) - Most Gulf stock markets closed higher on Thursday as investors focused on corporate earnings, but escalating regional tensions limited gains.

Dubai's main index rose 0.2 percent, boosted by a 3 percent gain in shares of Emirates NBD. The bank reported second-quarter earnings that were broadly flat compared to the previous quarter, with asset growth and margins remaining strong in its first full quarterly results since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In Abu Dhabi, the index rose 0.7 percent, supported by a 6.3 percent jump in shares of First Abu Dhabi Bank following an improvement in its quarterly results.

The bank's net profit for the quarter ending June 30 rose to AED 5.72 billion ($1.56 billion), compared with AED 5.51 billion in the previous year.

Shares in Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank rose 1.6 percent. After the close of trading, the bank announced a significant increase in second-quarter profits.

Joseph Daherieh, managing director of Techmil, said investors remained focused on geopolitical tensions, shipping risks, and second-quarter earnings, all factors that continued to influence market sentiment. Sentiment remained sensitive to regional developments and their potential impact on oil exports following attacks on tankers in the Red Sea.

Qatar's index fell 0.3 percent, with shares of Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) declining 1.8 percent.

The US military announced Wednesday that it had carried out another round of attacks on Iran at the direction of President Donald Trump, marking the twelfth consecutive night of US attacks.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said an oil tanker caught fire after an explosion while trying to sail through what it described as a minefield in the southern Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman, while two other tankers turned back.

The Saudi benchmark index rose 0.3 percent, and Aramco shares closed up 1 percent.

Brent crude futures rose $4.52, or 4.80 percent, to $98.59 a barrel by 0935 GMT, after hitting their highest level since June 3.

Tensions escalated after the Iranian-backed Houthi group announced on Thursday that it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising fears of a potential threat to another major global energy shipping route besides the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bahraini index rose 0.1 percent, the Omani index also rose by the same percentage, and the Kuwaiti index advanced 0.5 percent.

The Egyptian Stock Exchange is closed for a national holiday today.