The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Ali Beshr was prevented from travelling to Dubai from Cairo International Airport on Thursday.

Beshr – one of the few senior Brotherhood officials not in jail – was detained while authorities checked if there was a warrant for his arrest. He was later released.

The former local development minister in Mohamed Morsi’s government was among the core Brotherhood figures responsible for talks with the European Union.

Beshr and Amr Darrag have been described as the Brotherhood's negotiators with the interim government, but the Islamist group has repeatedly denied such talks have taken place.

"The officers did not tell me why I was barred from travelling," Beshr told Al-Ahram's Arabic news website, adding that he was heading to Dubai to participate in an international arbitration case in a professional capacity.

"I have no comment about what happened. I respected the order and returned home without knowing the reason behind the travel ban," he added. 

Earlier this week, leading Brotherhood figures had a meeting with veteran journalist and writer Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, who is said to have influence with decision makers in the interim administration.