Dubai: Arabs have welcomed the thaw in the Egypt-Qatar relations, saying that it was a positive development for the region haunted by the spectres of increasing terrorism and fanaticism.

“This is a remarkable breakthrough that would usher in higher levels of stability and security in the region,” Ahmad Salman, a Gulf analyst, said. “If someone less than two months ago told me that relations within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) would be restored at least to their levels before the worst diplomatic crisis that hit the alliance I would not have believed it, let alone a thaw between Qatar and its arch nemesis Egypt. But I am glad it did happen,” he said.

Relations between Cairo and Doha have plummeted after Egypt accused Qatar of blatant interference in its domestic affairs and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

The media in both countries played a major role in compounding the situation, turning it into a deadlock until Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saudi stepped in for a rapprochement between the two countries and an initiative was launched.

On Saturday evening, the Saudi Royal Court issued a statement welcoming the improvement of the Egyptian-Qatari ties as a result of the initiative.

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that King Abdullah “has always been keen on unifying the stances of the Arab countries and ironing out the differences between Egypt and Qatar in various fields and at all levels.”

The King’s initiative is based on the two agreements signed in Riyadh on November 23, 2013, and November 16, 2014, which confirmed the commitment of all GCC member states to supporting Egypt and contributing to its security and stability.

Both Egypt and Qatar expressed appreciation for the initiative of King Abdullah that called on both countries to consolidate relations between them, unify stances and remove causes of discord, the statement noted.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed its welcome regarding ongoing steps that will strengthen relations between Egypt and Qatar,” it said.

“Saudi Arabia stresses its keenness on opening a new page between the two countries for enhancing integration and cooperation between the two countries to achieve higher interests of the Arab and Islamic nations, hoping of all honourable scientists, intellectuals, writers and men of the media outlets responding and supporting this step,” the statement said, Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.

According to observers, the GCC countries, confronted with grave security challenges, need to postpone diverging views and tackle the more urgent threats lurking around them. For this, they need to fix their fractures and show a united front that should allow them to confront the challenges successfully.

They said that the discord within the GCC and with Egypt had offered Iran an opportunity to boost its influence, and, more ominously, to terrorist groups to use to their advantage the unprecedented fractures.

“All feuds need to be set aside and a common front is needed,” Ahmad said. “Iran’s increasing influence in the region and the seemingly inexorable emergence of terrorist groups that have repeatedly threatened to target some of the GCC countries have been a catalyst for the rapprochement between countries in the region and Egypt. This is obviously not the time for them to engage in trading accusations and in finger pointing as the threats are alarmingly increasing,” he said.