Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed with Saudi King Abdullah developments in the region as he staged his first visit to the kingdom.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed with Saudi King Abdullah developments in the region as he staged his first visit to the kingdom.

Sisi flew to the Red Sea city of Jeddah late on Sunday and held talks with King Abdullah before carrying out the lesser Umra pilgrimage in the holy Muslim city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported.

"This meeting between the two countries' leaderships is important in light of the circumstances facing Arab and Muslim nations," SPA news agency quoted Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal as saying on the sidelines of the late Sunday mini-summit.

Faisal hoped their meeting "could help resolve the Arab world's problems" such as the difficulties facing "Palestinians and Syrians as well as the sedition in Iraq and differences in Libya."

SPA reported that King Abdullah discussed "ongoing efforts to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza" Strip with Sisi, whose country is hosting talks aimed at a durable end to a month-long offensive against the besieged enclave.

They also discussed "means of strengthening cooperation between" Cairo and Riyadh, that has given billions of dollars in aid to Egypt to help kick-start its battered economy after the military, then headed by Sisi, overthrew Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammad Mursi in July last year.

Meanwhile, Emirati foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan also flew to Jeddah late on Sunday and he held talks with Faisal.

Like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates has also staunchly backed Sisi politically and financially.