“We expect all of them to be issued visas as per the assurance given to us by the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok,” an official of the Thai mission said quoting Saudi Charge d’Affaires Nabil Ashri. “Under no circumstances will we forbid Muslims from performing Haj, their fifth pillar of Islam.” The issue of visas for Thai Muslims was a major concern after a diplomatic row erupted between the two governments over the promotion of senior police officer Somkid Boonthanom. Somkid, who was accused of being involved in the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad Al-Ruwaili, decided to turn down his promotion as assistant national police chief to end the conflict.

The Kingdom, meanwhile, set the visa quota for 13,000 Thai Haj pilgrims with Ashri confirming this and ensuring that the pilgrims travel safely and comfortably to the Kingdom. Ties between the two countries were downgraded two decades ago over the theft of 90 kg of jewels worth $20 million by a Thai janitor from a palace in Riyadh. Some of the gems, including a rare blue diamond, have yet to be recovered. The theft led to the assassination of three Saudi diplomatic staff in Bangkok in a single night, the kidnap and murder of a Thai jeweler’s wife and child, and the disappearance of businessman Mohammad Al-Ruwaili, who witnessed one of the shootings.

The report from Bangkok quoting the culture minister said while the visas for the first batch of pilgrims were ready as the request was submitted last week, those for the second batch could not be processed due to a shortage of staff at the embassy.

Thailand has long sought to normalize ties with the Kingdom after the dispute that has cost billions of dollars in two-way trade and tourism, and denied employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to hundreds of thousands of Thai migrant workers.