Former trainer of Senegal, Bruno Metsu - who recently won the UAE league title with Al Ain and Turkish coach Mushin Ertugal are being considered as viable alternatives if they are unable to reach a deal with Tigana.

BBC: Egypt beckons for Tigana

Among the other guests was the UAE's deputy prime minister, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of Premier League football club Manchester City.

BBC: The Queen, Prince Phillip and Sheikh Khalifa Al-Nahyan

Twenty-three countries comprise the Arab League, but only Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Iran are major oil producers.

FORBES: Unconventional Oil In The Middle East