Qatar voices support for 'brother' Saudi Arabia after Mecca bombing despite Saudi-led blockade of Doha

Qatar on Saturday voiced support for Saudi Arabia over a suicide bombing near Islam's holiest site in Mecca despite their severed ties.

The Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement that it "strongly condemned" the attack, calling it an "assault on the sanctity of Islamic holy places and a provocation to the feelings of millions of Muslims".

It added that Qatar stood in "solidarity with the brotherly kingdom of Saudi Arabia".

Saudi Arabia and its allies severed all ties with Qatar earlier this month accusing it of supporting "terrorist groups" in the region, a charge Doha denies.

Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran also condemned the plot.

"Iran... as always expresses its readiness to assist and cooperate with other countries to confront these criminals, who deal death and ignorantly spread hate," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said.

Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are locked in a bitter battle for regional influence and have had no diplomatic relations since January last year.

Six foreign pilgrims were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where hundreds of thousands of worshippers had gathered for prayers on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The Saudi interior ministry said a wider plot had been foiled with the arrest of five suspects earlier in the day.

Since late 2014, the kingdom has faced periodic bombings and shootings claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.