Journalists watch Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressing the attendees of the summit on a screen in the media centre ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. (FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)

RIYADH - The leaders and heads of delegations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday convened the 41st session of the GCC Supreme Council in Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud called for unity at the summit, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud called for unity at the summit, the Saudi Press Agency reported

He chaired the session on behalf of the Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, conveying the directive to name the summit after the former Kuwaiti and Omani leaders for their decades of contributions.

The crown prince also hailed the efforts of Kuwait and the United States to end the Gulf crisis.

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"The efforts led to Al-Ula Agreement that would be signed during the summit, stressing Gulf, Arab and Islamic stability," he said.

Mohammed bin Salman highlighted that the GCC states should unify efforts to face challenges, including Iran's nuclear program.

He also urged the leaders to call on the international community to stop Iran to protect regional security and stability. 

At the summit, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed an agreement for Arab reconciliation with Qatar, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

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"Egypt has been always keen on the solidarity among the Arab quartet states and their approaches for promoting the unity and eradicating the disputes among each other," the statement reads.

It reiterated Egypt also signed the agreement for enhancing the joint Arab work in face of the regional challenges.

On Monday, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said Saudi Arabia and Qatar will reopen land, air and sea borders.

"The Kuwaiti emir made a phone call with the Qatari emir and Saudi Arabia's crown prince, who both confirmed their intention to start a new beginning in their relations," the minister said in a televised address.

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"Based on a suggestion from the Kuwaiti emir, the two countries have agreed to reopen the land, air, and sea borders between the two countries as of today's evening," he added.

An Arab quartet of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017 and has since imposed an embargo on the Gulf state, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Qatar has repeatedly denied all the charges.