The ministerial council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday mourned former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al Faisal who passed away on Thursday in the United States.

In a statement, the council said that Al Faisal served his country and the Islamic and Arab world for more than 40 years, saying that his death is a grave loss to the Arab world.

As the world's longest-serving senior diplomat, Saud Al Faisal proved to be one of the world's peace loving and defender whose endeavors have succeeded to bring peace and stability to several areas in the region, the statement added.

The statement cited his efforts to contain several crises in the Gulf and Arab region.

The council offered condolences to the Saudi people and government for the death of al Faisal.

Faisal - who was the world's longest-serving foreign minister - died at the age of 75.

He was the kingdom's foreign minister for 40 years as he was appointed in 1975, before retiring in April. He was replaced on April 29 by Adel al Jubeir.