When Barack Obama strode on to the podium at Cairo University to deliver his address to the Muslim world on Thursday, Saudis were glued to their television screens.

Centre stage: President Obama speaking at Cairo University. He pledged personally to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

They were already delighted that the US president had recognised the crucial role of their kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, and had visited King Abdullah before travelling to Egypt.