The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Rwanda on Thursday afternoon for a two-day official visit, where he was received at Kigali International Airport by President Paul Kagame.
The visit—his second to Rwanda after a 2019 state trip—comes at a time when relations between Doha and Kigali are rapidly expanding across strategic sectors.
Upon arrival, the visiting head of state received a full ceremonial welcome, complete with a red-carpet reception and a guard of honour.
The Emir—who is internationally recognised for his traditional Islamic attire of flowing tunic and headgear—appeared instead in a formal dark business suit paired with a red tie, a notable shift from his customary Gulf style.
The Rwandan leader walked alongside him as the two inspected the ceremonial lineup.
From the airport, the leaders proceeded to President Kagame’s farm in Kibugabuga for a private tête-à-tête.
During the tour of the expansive farm of long-horn cows known locally in Kinyarwanda as Inyambo, the two were photographed in a more relaxed setting. The Emir wore a casual short-sleeved olive-green T-shirt and dark trousers, contrasting sharply with his typical thobe-and-headgear ensemble.
The Rwandan president appeared in a buttoned long-sleeve shirt and dark trousers. Against a pastoral backdrop, the leaders interacted informally before the host presented his guest with Inyambo cows—an iconic Rwandan symbol of honour, friendship, and respect.
The gift underscores what both governments describe as a deepening partnership built on trust and shared developmental goals.
According to Rwandan and Qatari officials, cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly since the 2019 visit that yielded agreements in culture, sports, tourism, aviation, and business events.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Qatar’s embassy in Kigali, Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, said the visit reflects Doha’s strategic commitment to strengthening its engagement with Africa at a time of “rapid transformations in the region and across the world.”
He said Rwanda is viewed in Qatar “as a reliable partner,” adding that the two nations are working to elevate their cooperation “to broader horizons within a framework of mutual trust, respect, and common interests.”
One of the flagship areas of partnership remains aviation. Qatar Airways holds a 60 per cent stake in the new Bugesera International Airport, a $2 billion project expected to serve up to eight million passengers annually upon completion in 2028.
The facility is projected to become a major regional hub for transportation and logistics, reinforcing Qatar’s aviation footprint on the continent.
Cooperation has also advanced in security, hospitality, education, and investment. Several new agreements are expected to be signed during the two-day visit, expanding the scope of collaboration in the coming years.
The Emir’s latest trip, Rwandan officials say, underscores both nations’ desire to strengthen ties at a moment of evolving global and regional dynamics.
He will also be expected to discuss the eastern DR Congo instability that has led to the frosty relations between Kigali and Kinshasa. Qatar has been at the heart of mediation efforts to thaw relations between the two neighbouring states in which the Gulf state has vested business interests.
As the visit enters its second day, Kigali is expected to host a series of high-level bilateral engagements focusing on regional stability, economic partnerships, and long-term development cooperation.
