Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia met on Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks that focused on improving ties between the two countries.

The meeting comes amid tensions between the two regional powers over economic aid and criticism of Egypt's handling of its economy.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states have been major suppliers of aid to Egypt, which has been grappling with a financial crisis due to the war in Europe and alleged economic mismanagement.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates pledged $22 billion to Egypt in deposits and direct investments to stabilize its economy.

However, in recent months, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have been reluctant to provide aid, urging Egypt to undertake economic reforms.

The meeting between el-Sissi and bin Salman is the first since they met during the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.