Qatar welcomed a Saudi Arabian initiative to generate reconciliation between Egypt and Qatar and said that it cherishes the efforts of the Gulf state.

The Saudi palace had announced on Saturday night that a meeting between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, a special envoy from Qatar, and a special envoy from Saudi Arabia had led to positive steps towards reconciliation.

Relations between Qatar and Egypt had been tense since the 2013 ouster of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Qatar.

Qatar on Saturday stressed its acceptance of the Saudi statement, and confirmed it "completely stands by the brotherly Arab republic of Egypt" as Qatar's security is connected to Egypt's security.

The Qatari statement added that the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamal Al-Thani had initiated the Saturday meeting, sending his special envoy to meet with the Egyptian president, who received him very generously.

"Qatar, which cares about Egypt’s leading role in the Arab and Islamic world, seeks strong bilateral relations and mutual efforts to develop Egypt which will be in the interest of the peoples of both countries," the statement of the Qatari royal court concluded.