MIDEAST STOCKS-Most Gulf equities retreat on fears of prolonged Middle East conflict

April 2 (Reuters) - Major Gulf stock markets fell in early trading on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would continue its attacks on Iran, without specifying when the war would end.

In a prime-time address late Wednesday, Trump said the U.S. would carry out aggressive strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks and was close to achieving its main strategic objectives in the conflict.

Dubai's main share index .DFMGI dropped 1.4%, dragged down by a 1.6% slide in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties EMAR.DU.

In Abu Dhabi, the index .FTFADGI lost 0.9%, hit by a 1.4% decline in Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ADCB.AD.

The UAE foreign ministry said on Wednesday that reports about the residency status of Iranians in the Gulf state were inaccurate, stressing that the country considers the Iranian community an integral part of its diverse social fabric.

The Qatari index .QSI retreated 1.1%, with the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank QNBK.QA losing 1.1% and Qatar Gas Transport QGTS.QA declining about 3%.

Threats to maritime traffic have increased as the regional conflict has intensified. On Wednesday, an oil tanker leased by QatarEnergy was struck by an Iranian cruise missile in Qatari waters, the country's defence ministry said.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI bucking the trend gained 0.3%, helped by a 0.2% rise in Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE and a 0.3% increase in oil major Saudi Aramco 2222.SE.

Oil prices climbed nearly 7% on Thursday, as fears of prolonged supply disruptions intensified amid the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. O/R