The government of Qatar has approved a visa waiver for all Rwandan nationals holding ordinary passports. This development comes following President Paul Kagame’s official visit to Qatar, which concluded earlier this week.
The decision, passed by Qatar’s Cabinet on February 12, 2025, allows Rwandans to visit Qatar without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. This new agreement is expected to make it easier for both countries to boost trade, tourism, and other forms of international exchange.
During his visit, President Kagame met with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss ways to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The leaders focused on deepening ties in key areas such as business, tourism, and regional development.
The two leaders also explored opportunities for collaboration in sports. Rwanda is set to host the 2025 UCI World Championships and the famous Tour du Rwanda, and Qatar expressed interest in working together on sports development in Africa.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara, also met with top sports officials in Qatar to discuss further cooperation in sports training and education.
In addition to the visa waiver, the Cabinet approved a major update to Qatar’s aviation security laws. A new committee will now oversee the safety of civilian aircraft, reflecting Qatar’s ongoing commitment to improving security in the aviation sector.
President Kagame’s visit also highlighted Qatar’s significant investments in Rwanda. Qatar is funding the construction of the new Bugesera International Airport, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Rwanda.
The two countries are looking forward to even more collaboration in areas such as military training. This month, a group of Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) officers completed a four-year training program at a military academy in Qatar.
