The grand imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, arrived on Saturday at the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott in the first visit of its kind, upon an invitation to participate with Mauritanian clerics in an open dialogue on violence and extremism, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The head of Al-Azhar – the world's foremost institutions of Sunni Islamic learning – is also set to meet with top government officials in Mauritania, including the head of state and the prime minister.

El-Tayeb is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding between Al-Azhar University and scientific institutions in the majority-Muslim west African country.

El-Tayeb arrived at Nouakchott from Portugal, where he was attending a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Islamic Association in Lisbon.