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Rwanda and Qatar have taken a major step in strengthening their rapidly expanding partnership as President Paul Kagame received Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, for a two-day working visit focused on boosting cooperation in key strategic sectors.
The Emir arrived at Kigali International Airport on Thursday, November 20, before joining President Kagame in Bugesera District at the President’s private farm in Kibugabuga for bilateral talks. According to officials, the visit underscores the rising diplomatic and economic influence of both nations as they work to consolidate their roles in Africa and the Gulf.
Over the past decade, Rwanda and Qatar have cemented a robust relationship built on collaboration in aviation, investment, tourism, technology, and security. Qatar owns a 60 percent stake in RwandAir and is a major investor in the USD 2 billion Bugesera International Airport, now under construction. Once completed, the airport is expected to serve more than 14 million passengers annually, becoming one of East Africa’s most advanced aviation hubs.
Officials from both sides describe the partnership as long-term and mutually beneficial. Qatar’s chargé d’affaires in Rwanda, Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, emphasized that the Emir’s visit comes at a time when Rwanda has become a key regional partner. He noted that cooperation is expanding in transport, technology, education, and security.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura, highlighted ongoing joint initiatives such as Bugesera Airport and Kigali Innovation City, an ambitious project aimed at positioning Rwanda as a continental hub for technology and knowledge.
Security remains another vital pillar of the partnership. Qatar has supported Rwanda in military training and cybersecurity and has participated in broader regional peacebuilding efforts, particularly regarding instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the visit, President Kagame hosted the Emir at his rural farm, where he presented him with Inyambo cows—an enduring symbol of Rwandan heritage. The gesture, deeply rooted in Rwandan tradition, represents friendship, respect, and lasting bonds between leaders. According to the President’s Office, the exchange of cows is one of the most esteemed cultural expressions of goodwill in Rwanda.
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This marks Sheikh Tamim’s second visit to Rwanda since 2019, when multiple agreements were signed in culture, sports, tourism, business events, and aviation. Earlier this year, Qatar approved a draft mutual visa waiver that will allow ordinary Rwandan passport holders to enter the Gulf nation without restrictions, enhancing tourism, business travel, and people-to-people ties.
The ongoing two-day visit is expected to produce additional cooperation agreements, further strengthening the strategic partnership as Rwanda and Qatar pursue shared economic and geopolitical ambitions.
