On Tuesday morning local time, the 25-year-old arrived at Melbourne Airport, where he was met by former Australian national football team captain Craig Foster, who had spearheaded an international campaign for his release.
"This is a win for humanity, for the power of citizens of the world demanding that human rights be protected," Foster said in a statement.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the Thai government's decision to release Al-Araibi on Monday, after Bahrain dropped its extradition request in a shock move.
"We know all Australians will deeply appreciate the decision, allowing him to return to his wife, family and friends," he said in a statement.
Bahrain national Al-Araibi was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 27, after arriving in the Southeast Asian country for a vacation with his wife.
An international warrant had been issued for his arrest, despite the fact red notice requests are not meant to apply to refugees.
In 2014, Al-Araibi was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for a vandalism charge in Bahrain. The footballer fled to Australia, where he was granted refugee status in 2017. He now plays for semi-professional Melbourne-based club Pascoe Vale.
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