RIYADH: As he concludes a four-year tenure defined by the rapid transformation of Vision 2030, Portuguese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nuno Mathias has reflected on the deepening economic ties and the profound “eye-to-eye” cultural connection between the two countries.

“Saudi energy and the implementation of Vision 2030 have given me a great boost and interest in my work here, and to some extent pushed me to do more,” he said.

Speaking to Arab News, the official reflected on his time in the Kingdom, recalling when the previous ambassador told him: “Saudi Arabia is not what you think.”

Mathias arrived in the Kingdom in January 2022 and said he had had the “privilege to witness firsthand the transformations of the Kingdom and the implementation of Vision 2030.”

He highlighted the cultural and people-to-people connections he had observed between the Saudi and Portuguese people immediately on his arrival.

He said: “Throughout our history — architecture, language, culinary traditions, music — we have inherited so much from the Arab world that it brings our two peoples closer.”

Mathias added that the two countries and their populations see “eye to eye faster than others, probably.”

The ambassador focused his mission on bridging the two cultures and enhancing the relationship between the nations, beginning with people-to-people connections.

He said: “We see eye to eye on many things, and I dare say we become fast friends. Diplomacy is all about that — listening and understanding.

“In my four years it has always been about approaching or showcasing the connectivities that exist between Portugal and the Arab world.”

Mathias highlighted one key takeaway he will remember from his tenure in the Kingdom: Saudi hospitality.

He added: “You guys make it much easier. I feel very grateful for the way I was received and hosted in your country.”

As a result of Vision 2030, the ambassador also felt compelled to further Saudi-Portugal cooperation in economic and commercial areas.

Speaking about the evolution of diplomatic relations, he said that in 2022 the countries had “potential.” Throughout his four-year tenure he had worked “to bridge that gap or tried to make that potential more tangible.”

He added: “I think we did. We have, like I mentioned earlier, now some major Portuguese companies, especially in construction and civil construction, that are engaged in the Kingdom.”

Highlighting the expansion of Saudi-Portuguese ties, the ambassador underlined that the “potential is enormous.”

Mathias said: “I think in the last four years we have witnessed a lot of Portuguese companies coming to the Kingdom with a real interest to help implement Vision 2030.”

He noted that business cooperation was further strengthened through the creation of the Saudi-Portuguese Business Council, formalized in 2024.

Moving forward, he emphasized his desire to attract Saudi investors to Portugal, adding: “I think Portugal can offer great opportunities; again, because it’s a place where Saudis will feel at home, and I think that will be important.

“Wherever you do business, you want to feel welcomed, and because we share the same commonalities in terms of our values, this is important to highlight.”

One of the key milestones he pointed out was the official visit of Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel to Riyadh in October 2025.

And during his own time in the Kingdom Mathias traveled to various areas, including AlUla, the Eastern Province, Hofuf, and Jeddah.

He said: “I must say I fell in love with Jeddah. I know it’s hard for Riyadh people to hear this, but I am a person of the sea, so for me the presence of the sea was fantastic. And I fell in love with Al-Balad.”

The ambassador described Al-Balad as the “pinnacle of his stay,” and added: “Every time I go to Jeddah, I just love to get lost in Al-Balad — just to stroll the streets without any agenda, just to take in the atmosphere.

“To take in the prayers you hear in the background, the people, the street life, the old-town commerce.”

Mathias said his wife had also fallen in love with the place, and added: “We had probably one of the most extraordinary moments when we visited King Abdulaziz’s house.”

The ambassador went to Naseef House — the residence of King Abdulaziz in 1925 — with his family, where he witnessed the Maghrib call to prayer from the top-floor window.

He said: “At the end of the day, just before prayer time, we were there and suddenly you hear from all around Jeddah the call to prayer.

“It gives you goosebumps. This medley of voices that come … that was extraordinary.”

He described it as one of the “greatest experiences in his life.”

The experience was extended when he visited a 300-year-old home in Al-Balad and ate hamour fish.

He added: “Deep-fried hamour fish, sliced, for my kids — it was an extraordinary experience. It had cilantro, it had lemon, and we picked those pieces of fish. Incredible, incredible, incredible. So, that was one of my greatest experiences.”

Looking to the future, the ambassador hopes to see the implementation of direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Portugal.

He said: “I think once we have direct flights between our two countries, it is going to be a game changer.

“It is going to change the people-to-people connection, which is fundamental to any relationship. It will be much more intertwined. You will discover Portugal and the Portuguese will discover Saudi Arabia.”

Mathias offered words of wisdom to his successor Luisa Fragoso, Portugal’s next ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

He said: “I would let her be guided by the Saudi hospitality. I’m sure she will be in very good hands. I want to wish her all the best.

“I was very happy here and I’m sure she will be very happy.”