CAIRO – Thirteen Filipinos have reverted to Islam during an Islamic forum that introduces Islam to foreign workers in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

“13 Filipinos present at the forum decided to convert to Islam…they were given booklets about the religion and presents at the end of the forum,” Saudi newspaper, Sabq, reported.

The 13 were among hundreds of non-Muslim Asians and other nationalities invited to the forum by the Islamic Guidance Office in the capital Riyadh.

The gathering was held as part of the weekly events hosted by the Cooperative Office for Dawah.

Last month, figures revealed during an event held at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University that 400 women have reverted to Islam over the past four months in Riyadh.

In July 2015, 644 expatriates reverted to Islam during the holy month in Saudi Arabia, pronouncing Shahada or declaration of faith at a Riyadh mosque.

A few months earlier in April 2015, 600 Chinese workers have reverted to Islam, after being introduced to the tenets of Islam by Islamic scholars in the Muslims’ most holy city of Makkah.

The news followed earlier reports last January when 500 Chinese Muslims reverted to Islam after being touched by the “simplicity” of the funeral of the late King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.