DUBAI, July 26 (Reuters) - Dubai's stock market edged down in early trade on Sunday while other bourses in the region moved little against a mixed background of positive earnings expectations and poor performance by global commodities and equities.

The Dubai benchmark fell 0.8 percent as all but a handful of stocks declined. Lender Emirates NBD, down 2.3 percent, was the main drag on the index and the most traded stock. It had risen 10.4 percent last week on strong second-quarter results.

Air Arabia was one of the few gainers, climbing 1.2 percent. The low-cost carrier, which has yet to post quarterly earnings, may benefit from cheaper oil and fuel.

Abu Dhabi's market slipped 0.2 percent and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA), vulnerable to oil's fresh weakness, tumbled 4.2 percent.

Brent and U.S. crude futures on Friday posted their fourth straight weekly decline as weak economic data from China and a rise in U.S. oil drilling rigs applied pressure.

Telecommunications firm Etisalat, however, edged up 0.3 percent after announcing that its board would discuss second-quarter results and the dividend on Tuesday.

Qatar's index edged down 0.2 percent as blue-chip lender Qatar National Bank fell 0.8 percent.

Oman's market was flat, while Kuwait inched up 0.1 percent.

(Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Torchia and William Hardy)