Arab leaders will gather in the Saudi city Jeddah on Friday for this year's Arab League summit. Yasser Hakim reports from the host city on what's at stake. 

Just over a month ago, Syria's return to the Arab League after an eleven-year suspension was a big international news story.

MOTLAK AL MOTERY Professor of Political Media King Saud University "The reconciliation aims to put a halt to the Syrian losses, limit the ongoing damage, retain Syria's positive role within the Arab world and restore security and stability for the Syrian people. Arabs had to intervene to protect Syria from destruction and Saudi Arabia took the initiative."

The Kingdom is adopting an engagement policy with several neighbours including Yemen and long time arch foe Iran through Chinese mediation. Riyadh has also invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab gathering for the first time in over a decade.

YASSER HAKIM Jeddah "The Saudi Syrian reconciliation has been timely as it comes just before an all-important Arab summit to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia."

But ahead of the summit, unexpected conflicts on other fronts have attracted a lot of attention.

First was the breakout of a clashes in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces that has seen more than 600 people dead and over 200,000 fleeing the country so far, with no signs of peace on the horizon.

It was followed by Palestinian Israeli clashes as air raids and bombings killed scores of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

RAEF HUSSEIN Palestinian Political and Strategic Consultant "I don't think the Palestinian file will be a priority as other issues will dominate discussions at the summit. Palestine doesn't need condemnations nor empty statements against Israel that we've heard tens of times for years. We need a serious approach to end this crisis."

Some experts are warning time is running out in the volatile region.

MOTLAK AL MOTERY Professor of Political Media King Saud University "The people don't have much patience to wait for alternatives. The leaders have to address their fears and concerns. Saudi Arabia has taken the initiative to reunite the Arabs, but it needs political will from everyone to restore stability in the region and to focus on economic and sustainable development to improve living conditions."

This summit will be closely monitored by Arab populations hoping their leaders can stop raging fires before they spread to the rest of the Middle East. Yasser Hakim for CGTN, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.