(reuters) -- Masri, chairman of Amman-based Arab Bank, Jordan's largest lender, was detained last week hours before he was planning to leave after chairing meetings of Saudi companies he owns, sources said.

Masri, a Saudi citizen, said from his home in Riyadh on Sunday after his release that the Saudi authorities had accorded him "all respect". The authorities have not commented on his detention. Jordanian authorities privately said King Abdullah intervened to secure his release.

(Photo: Al-Masri's detention sent shockwaves across Jordan, where his multibillion-dollar investments are a cornerstone of the economy EPA)