Egypt's Sisi courts Saudi Arabia after reports of rift

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday courted Saudi Arabia, saying that both countries are the "two wings" of the Arab national security.

"Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the two wings of the Arab national security and they will always be together," Sisi said during a military graduation ceremony, attended by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

The praise comes amid reports that the two countries have been at odds over a number of regional issues as the conflict in Yemen and Syria.

"We need each other because there are major challenges and threats ahead," Sisi said.

Egypt is a member of the Saudi-led coalition that launched a massive air campaign against the Shia Houthi group in Yemen.

Relations between the two states reportedly cooled down over Cairo's support for reaching a political solution to the conflict in Yemen and Riyadh's contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which ousted President Mohamed Morsi hails.

Saudi Arabia has been a main supporter of the ouster of Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president, by the military two years ago.