MUSCAT: Bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda continue to evolve across multiple sectors, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen cooperation and expand the scope of partnership, building upon diplomatic ties, which were established in 1982.
The upcoming official visit of President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda to the Sultanate of Oman comes within the framework of mutual interest in advancing bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in the political, economic, and investment spheres, thereby opening new horizons for partnership between Oman and Rwanda.
The two countries share a historical legacy rooted in Oman’s longstanding connections with East Africa, which over the centuries have contributed to building bridges of commercial, humanitarian, and cultural exchange. This heritage constitutes a positive foundation for contemporary relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Rwanda, grounded in mutual respect, cooperation and openness to forging future partnerships.
Both countries have worked to strengthen their bilateral ties through official delegation visits. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, visited the Sultanate of Oman during 10-11 January 2026, leading a delegation that comprised four other Rwandan ministers, namely the Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Innovation, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, the Minister of State for Infrastructure, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board.
The visit facilitated meetings with a number of Omani ministers to exchange views and ideas on enhancing bilateral relations in service of shared interests. It also witnessed the signing of several agreements and cooperation programmes in the fields of transport, communications, and information technology, including a Memorandum of Understanding between the Rwanda Development Board and Oman Airports Management Company, aimed at enhancing cooperation in airport development and management, expertise exchange, and exploring investment opportunities in the aviation sector and related infrastructure.
A cooperation programme was also signed in the field of logistics services and the development and operation of inland ports (dry ports) and supply chain-related services, alongside a cooperation programme in data centres, cloud computing, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence projects and services.
In April 2025, the Sultanate of Oman signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda concerning the enhancement of cooperation in telecommunications and digital economy development, on the sidelines of Oman’s participation in the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, held in Kigali.
With a view to strengthening air connectivity between the two countries, the visit also saw the announcement of the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Kigali. SalamAir commenced its inaugural direct flights between Muscat and Kigali, Rwanda, on 21 July 2026, with two weekly flights, thereby enhancing direct connectivity between the two countries and supporting the development of economic, tourism, and investment relations.
80 Omani firms showcased products at OPEX 2020 held in Kigali
At the political level, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, met with his Rwandan counterpart in New York in September 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, as part of ongoing communication between the two countries and the exchange of views on various matters of mutual concern.
Rwanda pursues a policy of openness and partnership-building, focusing on promoting stability and sustainable development. Its international relations are anchored in economic diplomacy, investment attraction, and active participation in peacekeeping efforts. Rwanda is a member of several international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the East African Community, in addition to its membership in the Commonwealth.
Diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda date back to 1982 and were established at the level of non-resident ambassadors. Oman’s diplomatic representation to Rwanda is currently conducted through the Sultanate of Oman’s Embassy in Nairobi, while Rwanda’s diplomatic representation to Oman is conducted through its Embassy in Cairo.
President Kagame’s visit to the Sultanate of Oman is expected to further strengthen economic relations and increase the volume of bilateral trade, as current indicators open the door for its development and expansion, particularly in light of enhanced air connectivity and the signing of several agreements and cooperation programmes in logistics and supply chain integration.
Numerous opportunities for cooperation and investment exist between the two countries, encompassing trade, energy, renewable energy, mining, inland ports, airports, hospitality, healthcare, and education.
Economic and trade relations between the two countries have witnessed several milestones, including the participation of over 80 Omani companies from various industrial sectors in the Omani Products Exhibition (OPEX 2020), held in Kigali in March 2020, to promote trade exchange and target the Rwandan market. Exhibited products included food items, plastics, building materials, and others.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, two trade agreements were signed, the first between Tatronk Middle East Technical Services and Al Rashidi General Trading Company, concerning the export of the “Oman Tak” product for hot and cold pipes; and the second between the National Pharmaceutical Industries Company and Sun Enterprises Rwanda, concerning product registration, marketing, and distribution in the Rwandan market through various pharmacies and hospitals.
Within the framework of agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries, an Air Services Agreement was signed in 2023 and entered into force on 12 January 2026, in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding on telecommunications, information technology, and digital economy development signed in April 2025, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Rwanda Development Board and Oman Airports Management Company, and the two cooperation programmes in logistics services and inland ports, and in data centres, cloud computing, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence projects and services, all of which were concluded in January 2026.
Rwanda, located in East Africa, is a country that has undergone rapid transformation and achieved relative stability after decades of turmoil. It is a landlocked nation covering an area of 26,338 square kilometres, with its capital in Kigali. It is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda is known for its mountainous terrain, which has earned it the sobriquet “Land of a Thousand Hills.” The tourism sector, particularly nature-based tourism, constitutes a cornerstone of its economy, with national parks that are home to rare mountain gorillas.
Rwanda’s economy is among the fastest-growing in Africa.
Traditionally reliant on agriculture—with key crops including coffee, tea, maize, and potatoes—the country is increasingly focusing on the services sector, particularly information technology, tourism, and financial services, as part of the implementation of “Rwanda Vision 2050”, which aims to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, achieve high-income country status, and strengthen its position as a regional hub for business, investment, and conferences in East Africa.
Rwanda offers investment opportunities across a number of sectors, including agriculture, livestock, tourism, hospitality, mining, information and communications technology, industry, energy, and pharmaceuticals, in addition to the development of special economic zones and infrastructure.
The accelerating developments in Omani-Rwandan relations provide a favourable foundation for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the coming period and leveraging available opportunities in the trade, investment, energy, logistics, aviation, technology, and tourism sectors, thereby supporting shared interests and opening broader horizons for partnership between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda. — ONA
GRAPH POINTS
1. Diplomatic relations between Oman and Rwanda were established in 1982
2. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe led a delegation to Muscat in January
3. Direct flights between Muscat and Kigali were launched by SalamAir on July 21
4. Oman Airports and the Rwanda Development Board signed an MoU for airport development and management
5. Both nations finalised an agreement focusing on joint projects in data centres, cloud computing, technology infrastructure, and AI
6. Initiatives like the OPEX 2020 exhibition in Kigali—targets key growth sectors including trade, energy, mining, hospitality, healthcare and education
