CAIRO, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Cairo on Thursday to deliver a speech aimed at rebuilding relations with the Muslim world.

Obama was greeted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak outside the Qubba Palace in the city center. Later in the day, the U.S. leader will give a speech at Cairo University, expected to be seen by millions of Muslim television viewers worldwide.

"The speech will outline his personal commitment to engagement, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. He will discuss how the United States and Muslim communities around the world can bridge some of the differences that have divided them," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters ahead of the visit.

The U.S. president began his trip to the Middle East on Wednesday with a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Abdullah.

Obama said he had asked for King Abdullah's advice ahead of his speech in Cairo. Egypt is the main U.S. strategic ally in the Arab world.

Commenting on Muslim expectations of Obama's trip, Dr. Laleh Khalili of London's School of Oriental and African Studies told RIA Novosti: "I think 'the Muslim world' is too big a category. I imagine people in Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, or Indonesia would have different expectations from Obama... As such, I think the expectation that Obama could actually address everyone in ways that would make everyone happy is probably a tall order."