ع
A statement issued by the Diwan of Royal Court on September 5, 2026 announced that President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda will pay an official two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman on September 7 and 8. The visit stems from the mutual commitment of both countries to develop and expand joint ties in a manner that brings benefit to their peoples, according to the statement. It will address topics of mutual concern and ways to promote them in support of shared interests and aspirations. The announcement highlighted the ongoing evolution of bilateral relations across multiple sectors since diplomatic ties were first established in 1982.
Times of Oman reported that the visit builds on a series of high-level engagements that have deepened partnership in recent years. In January 2026, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe led a delegation of four other ministers to Muscat for meetings with Omani counterparts. Those discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in transport, communications, information technology and other priority areas, the newspaper said.
Four cooperation agreements and programmes were signed during the January visit, according to the Oman Observer. The pacts covered logistics services along with the development and operation of land ports and supply chains as well as data centres, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and enhanced air connectivity. A separate memorandum of understanding was concluded between the Rwanda Development Board and Oman Airports Management Company to promote cooperation in airport development, management, expertise exchange and investment opportunities in aviation infrastructure.
The January meetings also produced an announcement on direct air links between the two capitals, the Times of Oman stated. SalamAir launched its inaugural direct flights between Muscat and Kigali on July 21, 2026, operating two services per week. This connectivity is intended to support growth in trade, tourism and investment relations between Oman and Rwanda while strengthening links between the Middle East and East Africa.
Earlier steps toward closer cooperation included a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2025 on the sidelines of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit in Kigali, the Oman Observer reported. That agreement between the two countries’ communications and information technology authorities outlined collaboration in digital economy development and related fields. In September 2025, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi met his Rwandan counterpart in New York during the United Nations General Assembly to review historical relations and discuss investment, agriculture, tourism and education, according to the Foreign Ministry website.
The New Times of Rwanda noted that the partnership has expanded steadily into aviation, logistics, energy, information and communications technology and investment since high-level contacts began more than three decades ago. Direct flights and the signed agreements have created new commercial opportunities and reinforced people-to-people ties, the Rwandan newspaper added. Officials from both sides have emphasised implementation of the pacts to deliver tangible benefits in sustainable development and regional integration.
