RIYADH: After four years of diplomatic service, Clive Aquilina Spagnol, the outgoing ambassador of Malta to Saudi Arabia, has concluded his post but will remain in the Kingdom, reaffirming his commitment to a country he calls his “newfound home.”
When he first arrived, he aimed to explore Saudi Arabia and immerse himself in its culture, language and people, saying: “I want to learn about Saudi Arabia, about Saudi people, I want to go through the walls, see how they work and see how they live, what they think and discover that they think beautifully, they are open-minded, they traveled the world.”
Spagnol noted that while dress may differ, there is much overlap between the people of Saudi Arabia and Malta.
The envoy began his mission in November 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown.
During his tenure, the ambassador “realigned the strategy for furthering cooperation” between Saudi Arabia and Malta, highlighting that Malta had not fully understood certain market gaps, particularly in manufacturing and education.
