People carry the body of late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, Sept. 30, 2020. (Amiri Diwan/Handout via Xinhua)

The United Nations on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away on Sept. 29 at the age of 91.

"We mourn his loss together with Kuwait," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the tribute to the memory of the late Kuwaiti leader, held at the UN headquarters in New York.

"Throughout his reign, His Highness, earned recognition and respect from near and far for his outstanding leadership and commitment to peacemaking," said the secretary-general.

"He always stood ready to bridge faiths, cultures and countries in the neighborhood and beyond," he added.

"With foresight, political wisdom and persistence, His Highness shaped Kuwait's preventive diplomatic engagement in the region and internationally," said the UN chief.

Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, said at the event that "the Amir was known as 'the dean of Arab diplomacy' for his commitment to peace and dialogue. It is a privilege to call this great man one of us, a diplomat."

"The United Nations has recognized the work of this eminent leader, in particular, His Highness' humanitarian leadership in 2014. Kuwait's leadership and funding saved tens of thousands of lives, and galvanized others to participate in coordinated international action. And this generosity extended beyond the Middle East, as Kuwait also supported humanitarian actions in other countries and regions," said the UNGA president.

"I wish the people of Kuwait and the family of the Amir well as they mourn this great leader," he added.

After concluding his remarks, Bozkir asked diplomats in the UN General Assembly Hall to join him in a minute of silence.