Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, will not attend the Gulf summit in Riyadh, state media reported Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017 over allegations it backs radical Islamists and seeks closer ties with Saudi arch rival Tehran.

Qatar vehemently denies the allegations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani will, however, head Qatar's delegation _ its highest level of representation at the annual meeting in two years and the most concrete sign yet of a potential thaw in a regional dispute.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online