W hat began as a curiosity sparked by global trade flows eventually evolved into a long-term investment journey that would connect Manchester to Kigali and business experience in the United Kingdom to Rwanda’s growing economy.
British Pakistani entrepreneur Saeed Alam, founder of The Manor Hotel in Kigali, has reflected on how early migration, entrepreneurship, and international exposure shaped his path into Rwanda’s investment landscape.
In an exclusive interview with The Dawn, Alam traced his personal and professional journey from growing up in an immigrant family in the United Kingdom to entering business at a young age.
He explained that those early experiences laid the foundation for his career, saying: “I am a British Pakistani who moved to the United Kingdom at a very young age in 1968.
Growing up in an immigrant family, I was exposed early to the values of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance.”
He added that these values shaped his entry into entrepreneurship at just 17 years old and guided his progression across multiple industries in the UK, including retail, takeaway food businesses, real estate, and financial services.
Over time, his work in property expanded significantly, involving both residential and commercial portfolios across Greater Manchester, alongside financial advisory roles in mortgages and insurance.
His link to Rwanda emerged much later, in 2004, during research into global trade patterns. At the time, Rwanda was still largely viewed internationally through its post-genocide history, but a detail about agricultural exports captured his attention.
He recalled discovering that a significant portion of Rwanda’s tea exports was reaching Pakistan, although often routed through Kenya, making the origin less visible in Pakistani markets.
That discovery, he said, changed his perception of the country.
“That connection sparked my curiosity and gave me a different perspective on Rwanda,” he noted, explaining that it encouraged him to look more closely at the country’s economic potential beyond its international image at the time.
By 2006, this interest had turned into investment activity in Rwanda. Alam later learned that he was considered among the largest British investors in the country during the early phase of his engagement, something he described as a reflection of both commitment and longterm belief in Rwanda’s trajectory.
Despite early challenges linked to market conditions and project timelines, he moved forward with one of his flagship investments, The Manor Hotel in Kigali, which opened in 2010 and remains central to his business presence in Rwanda’s hospitality sector.
Reflecting on that period, he acknowledged the role of local institutions in facilitating investment. “ it is important for me to emphasize the significant support I received from formation of the Pakistan Association in Rwanda, helping to support a community that has since grown from a very small group into a wider network of entrepreneurs and professionals.
Saeed, a British-Pakistani, played a pivotal role in establishing the British community in Rwanda.
He was also a leading figure in the creation of the British Chamber of Commerce in Rwanda, where he has been instrumental in promoting bilateral trade and investment.
He observed that this growth has had broader economic impact, noting that many individuals who initially worked within his business ventures have since established their own companies, contributing to Rwanda’s expanding private sector and reinforcing skills transfer within the community.
Over time, what began as a single investment has evolved into a sustained commitment to Rwanda’s economic development, with continued interest in expanding into additional sectors as new opportunities emerge in the country’s growing market.
Reflecting on his overall journey, Alam described it as one defined by resilience and long-term vision.
“My journey from a young immigrant in the United Kingdom to an investor in Rwanda has been built on resilience, belief, and the willingness to embrace opportunity,” he said, adding that Rwanda’s transformation demonstrates what can be achieved through stability, vision, and sustained development planning.
He concluded that he remains committed to growing alongside Rwanda’s economy, as cooperation between local institutions and international investors continues to expand opportunities across sectors.
