Opinion: Why Saudi Arabia is meddling with Egypt

Saudi Arabia's King has been gushing about Egypt's new President like an over-proud parent at a sports day.

Before the official election results had been announced, but with the final result beyond reasonable doubt, King Abdullah showered praise on Egypt's next president (and former head of the armed forces,) Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Sisi's victory was an "historic day and a new state for Egypt" he fawned, calling on the international community to unite for a donor conference, where they could pledge money to Egypt's third president in less than four years.

When it comes to Egypt, King Abdullah has already put his money where his mouth is. After the country's first elected Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted in a military coup in July 2013, the Saudis showed their appreciation by opening their wallets.

As the newly empowered army cracked down violently on the Muslim Brotherhood, the West threatened to withdraw support for its leader, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia cheered the army on and offered to make up any shortfall in Western aid donations. Within a week of the coup, King Abdullah announced an aid package of $12bn (£7.1bn, €8.8bn,) with $5bn from the Saudis and the rest coming from the UAE and Kuwait.

Fast forward to June 2014 and the Gulf States have allied once more to celebrate Sisi's ascent to the presidency. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are lining up a $20bn aid package, according to reports in the Egyptian media. The sum would dwarf the annual economic and military grants Egypt received from the US and the European Union, ($1.5bn and $1.3bn respectively) before the 2013 coup.

Following three years of political upheaval, the Egyptian economy is growing at its slowest pace in two decades and in desperate need of stimulus and reform. Amid the perpetual disorder and violence, tourists and investors have fled the country at an equally rapid pace.