• Rwanda signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with C4IR UAE and C4IR Malaysia during Dubai AI Week 2025.
• The partnership focuses on ethical, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to AI development.
• Key areas include governance frameworks, skills development, and technological innovation.

On Wednesday, April 23, during Dubai AI Week 2025, Rwanda inked a three-way memorandum of understanding with the Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) of the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Ambassador John Mirenge, representing the Rwandan government, finalized the agreement, signaling a significant stride in international collaboration on artificial intelligence.

This partnership aims to build on the momentum generated by Rwanda's AI fellowship program and foster deeper collaboration among the three nations. It will support joint efforts in areas such as governance frameworks, skills development, and technological innovation, with a focus on ethical, inclusive, and sustainable methodologies.

The agreement comes after Kigali hosted the inaugural Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Africa. That event, which convened experts, government officials, and private sector partners, underscored Rwanda's aspirations in AI and its increasing prominence in global discussions concerning technology governance.

Since 2022, Rwanda has operated its own Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, established in partnership with the World Economic Forum. This center spearheads AI projects and develops appropriate regulatory structures. An ambitious initiative to create 50 artificial intelligence applications over four years was launched this month, aiming to accelerate the digital transformation of key sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and public administration. This program aligns with the national digital development strategy and the country's Vision 2050.

This closer relationship could also enable Rwanda to leverage the advanced experience of the United Arab Emirates, which has already integrated AI into numerous government services, and Malaysia’s expertise in applying technological innovation to industry. For Kigali, this represents a strategic opportunity to expedite the growth of its own artificial intelligence ecosystem while solidifying its standing on the global technology stage.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji