Rwanda Plans Formula 1 Grand Prix to Support Its New 14m-Passenger Airport

Rwanda is building a new airport in Bugesera with capacity for 14 million passengers a year, matching the country’s population. The $2 billion project is expected to open in 2028, far above the roughly two million passengers currently handled by Kigali’s airport. The country has also secured a reported 10-year Formula 1 deal expected to begin in the early 2030s. The Bugesera circuit will be located near the airport and could become Africa’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix since 1993. Qatar Airways owns a 60% stake in the airport and is also Formula 1’s official airline. Rwanda is following a tourism and events strategy similar to Qatar’s, which used major sporting events to build Doha into an international transit hub. Rwanda has promoted its tourism brand through European football sponsorships and hosted major global events, including FIA awards and cycling championships. The plan has attracted criticism from those who describe the country’s sports sponsorships as sportswashing. Supporters say the race could create tourism revenue, improve Rwanda’s global profile and inspire young Africans to pursue careers in motorsport and engineering.

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