Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, on Thursday, November 20, arrived in Rwanda for a two-day state visit. The visiting head of state was received by his host, President Paul Kagame, on Thursday afternoon at Kigali International Airport. This is his second visit to Rwanda, following a three-day state visit in 2019. At the time, both leaders witnessed the signing of four agreements in the sectors of culture, sports, tourism, and business events, as well as aviation travel and logistics. ALSO READ: Qatar moves to waive visas for Rwandan passport holders Bilateral ties between the two countries continue to grow, particularly in the sectors of aviation, security, investment, and hospitality. Earlier this year, the government of Qatar approved a draft agreement on a mutual visa waiver, allowing free entry for holders of Rwandan ordinary passports as part of efforts to boost tourism. According to the Chargé d’Affaires of the embassy of Qatar to Rwanda, Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, the Qatari leader comes to Kigali at a very important time in light of the rapid transformations taking place in the region and across the world. He noted that the two-day visit “reflects the vision of the State of Qatar” in enhancing its openness to the African continent and expanding its partnerships with its countries in support of security, stability, and sustainable development. Al Aida said the visit also embodies Rwanda’s status as a reliable partner for the State of Qatar, and the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to elevate bilateral relations to broader horizons within the framework of a partnership based on mutual trust, respect, and common interests. In this context, he observed that relations between Doha and Kigali have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, thanks to continuous communication and the converging vision of the two leaderships. He also pointed out that cooperation between the two countries has achieved tangible results in several sectors, including security, education, transportation, and aviation services, noting that the visit will include the signing of new agreements that will expand the scope of cooperation and meet the aspirations of the two countries in the next stage. In an interview with the Qatar News Agency (QNA), the diplomat said that the proposed airport in Bugesera, currently under construction, is one of the most prominent avenues for bilateral cooperation, as its completion will contribute to doubling development aspirations and enhancing Rwanda's position as a regional hub for transportation and logistics. ALSO READ: Completion of Rwanda’s new airport extended to 2028 Qatar Airways has invested in the ongoing construction of the $2 billion airport in Bugesera, and will have a 60 per cent stake in the airport, which is scheduled to be completed in 2028. The airport will have a 130,000-square-meter main terminal building capable of accommodating eight million passengers a year, with the figure expected to rise to over 14 million in the following decades, according to developers.
