DUBAI  - Gulf stock markets were mixed in early trade on Wednesday with Qatar continuing to rebound on the back of buying by foreign investors seeking attractive dividend yields.

The Qatari index was up 0.5 percent after 50 minutes of trade with real estate firm United Development, the most heavily traded stock, gaining 4.6 percent.

Aamal Co, which had risen 2.4 percent on Tuesday after announcing plans for an affiliate to build three local factories to produce copper wires, aluminium bars and drums for cables, climbed a further 3.9 percent.

Exchange data has shown strong net buying interest in Qatari stocks among foreign investors, who accounted for 44.3 percent of buy orders and 22.8 percent of sell orders on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's index edged up 0.1 percent on the back of petrochemical shares, which were boosted by Brent crude oil hitting a 2 1/2-year high of $69.29 a barrel overnight. Twelve of the sector's 14 stocks rose.

PetroRabigh, which has also been buoyed this week by news of the start-up of its Phase II expansion project, added 3.5 percent in heavy trade.

Dubai's index edged up 0.1 percent. Union Properties was flat in active trade after saying it was in the final stage of selling its entire stake in Emicool, a district cooling service provider. It was not specific about how it would use proceeds of the sale, merely saying it would strengthen its focus on core operations and enter new sectors.

Abu Dhabi's index fell 0.5 percent as First Abu Dhabi Bank, the biggest lender, retreated 0.5 percent in heavy trade after jumping 7.3 percent in the previous six trading days.

(Reporting by Andrew Torchia, editing by Larry King) ((andrew.torchia@thomsonreuters.com)(+9715 6681 7277)(Reuters Messaging: andrew.torchia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))