Between January 19 and 25, Saudi public decision-makers, business leaders and investors will be in Lisbon and Porto to deepen an economic relationship that, over the last two years, has gone from an intention to a strategy with real impact. This will already be the third official visit of this kind to Portuguese territory, and everything indicates that it marks a new level, with the signing of cooperation protocols and memorandums of understanding that were being prepared with care and long-term vision.

The mission, composed of about 15 members, includes an intense agenda of institutional and business meetings. Meetings are planned with representatives of the Government, large Portuguese business groups, and structuring entities of the national economic ecosystem, as well as with several strategic municipalities. This scope demonstrates that Saudi interest in Portugal is structural, transversal, and framed in a medium- and long-term logic.

At the centre of this movement is the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, created in 2024, which has acted as a true catalyst for this rapprochement. Its leadership, led by Abílio Alagôa da Silva, has been decisive in transforming political dialogue into concrete business relationships. His international experience and ability to strategically read both markets have enabled him to build trust, maintain continuity, and pursue a pragmatic agenda oriented towards results, an essential quality when building lasting bridges between different economic cultures.

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At the same time, the role of the Luso-Arab Chamber of Commerce, previously chaired by Luís Filipe Menezes, who now presides over the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia, has also been decisive. In addition to the institutional dimension, there is persistent, close and deeply personal work here to maintain these relationships. This dedication, made up of constant presence, monitoring of companies, and active economic diplomacy, has been fundamental in giving this bilateral relationship solidity and credibility.

On the Saudi side, the role of Alwalid Albaltan, president of the Saudi-Portuguese Business Council, stands out. Over the past few months, through various conversations and meetings, I have had the opportunity to get to know not only the business leader but the person. Today, I consider Alwalid Albaltan a close friend, someone with whom I share a very clear vision about the potential of this relationship between Portugal and Saudi Arabia. Curiously, this proximity was also built around an unexpected but very Portuguese passion: one of the great national football clubs, a theme that quickly created empathy and complicity.

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I hope, in fact, to have the opportunity during the next week to exchange ideas with him again, albeit for a few minutes, on topics I consider central to this future partnership: real estate mediation and the enormous potential of real estate projects in Saudi Arabia. A country that is redefining its cities, infrastructures and urban models offers unique opportunities for Portuguese companies with experience, creativity and the ability to execute.

What is being built between Portugal and Saudi Arabia goes far beyond one-off deals. It is a structural link between two complementary economies, based on trust, strategic vision and strong human relations. Portugal began to assert itself as a natural point of connection between Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. This bridge is not built in months, but it is clearly underway. And the most relevant thing is that we are not just observing it. We are actively participating in its construction.