This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On December 10, 2019, the Rwanda government and Qatar Airways signed a significant investment partnership for the country's new international airport.
The partnership involves three agreements to build, own, and operate the state-of-the-art facility, with Qatar Airways taking a 60% stake in the project valued at around $1.3 billion.
The new airport is being redesigned to accommodate 7 million passengers per year, with a second phase expected to start by 2032, increasing capacity to 14 million passengers annually.
Aviation expert Dan Okwiri believes that Rwanda's new international airport will become the next aviation hub in the region, surpassing Addis Ababa and potentially threatening the status of Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Okwiri attributes Rwanda's success to its excellent business environment and visionary leadership under President Paul Kagame, which has attracted significant investment from Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways' acquisition of a 60% stake in Rwanda's new international airport is a significant milestone in the development of the country's vibrant aviation sector.
