Kigali, 9 December, 2019: The Government of Rwanda and Qatar Airways signed an investment partnership for Rwanda’s new International Airport. The partnership features three agreements to build, own, and operate the state-of-the-art facility.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony held at Kigali Convention Centre on Monday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the President of the Republic of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame witnessed the signing of three agreements between the governments of the two countries.

Qatar Airways has agreed to take a 60% stake in the project, which as a whole is valued at around $1.3 billion. The new airport is being redesigned to accommodate seven million passengers per annum, with a second phase for 14 million passengers a year expected to start by 2032.         

The agreements signed mark a key milestone in the development of Rwanda’s vibrant aviation sector, in the context of the excellent bilateral relationship between Qatar and Rwanda.

Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Claver Gatete reassured that the plans for the new airport are a modification of those drawn up in 2017 for a smaller facility with a maximum capacity of 4.5 million passengers per annum in the same location. The investment from Qatar Airways would enable it to build a larger airport. “We have now broadened our ambitions and are keen on a bigger facility that also meets international standards and has multiple sustainability elements”, Minister Gatete noted.

The partnership with Qatar Airways would help state-run carrier RwandAir to expand its operations as well as boosting aviation sector. At the moment RwandAir serves 28 destinations and is set to open new routes to four more; the United States of America, Angola, Mozambique and Ethiopia.