On Friday 21 April 2017, the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates co-hosted a Buddhist merit making ceremony to celebrate Songkran Festival which was presided over by H.E. Mr Komate Kamalanavin, Ambassador of Thailand to the UAE. The Buddhist ceremony was conducted by Than Chao Khun Phraphawanathammaphinan, Abbot of Wat Na Luang in Udon Thani province comprising of four monks and was attended by Mr Rangsan Srimangkorn, Acting Consul-General, Mr Poonsak Pramong, Minister Counsellor (Labour), Mr Gridiwong Siddhichai , Representative of Thai Trade Center Dubai Office as well as diplomats and staff from Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai and over 300 Thais and foreigners living in the United Arab Emirates.
On this special occasion, the Thai Women’s Association in Abu Dhabu and the Thai community in the UAE presented an off season offering of 241,452 Baht to Wat Na Luang for the construction of the “Bunlue Dhamma” Pavilion .