Gulf mediates to end Egypt’s differences with Saudi Arabia

Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain have been mediating to end the differences between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, sources in Cairo have revealed.

According to Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper, the sources confirmed that the official rhetoric from both countries is calm and they sometimes deny any disagreement. Nevertheless, even though the Saudi leadership sacrificed the Secretary General of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, Iyad Madani (a Saudi national), after his remarks regarding the Egyptian president, this does not mean that relations between the largest two Arab states are the same as before.

Mediation efforts began with contacts made by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed a few weeks ago. This was followed by a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was received by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Shaikh Mohammed then went to Egypt to meet President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who stressed his country’s support for the Gulf countries against any regional or external threats.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency indicated mediation by the UAE. It pointed out that the Abu Dhabi crown prince assured Al-Sisi that relations between Egypt and the Gulf states are a fundamental pillar of regional security and stability.