Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei has developed a public identity that combines royal duty, military service, international diplomacy and competitive sport. Born on August 10, 1991, he turned 35 in August 2026. He is a son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and became even more widely known internationally after marrying Anisha Rosnah binti Adam in an elaborate series of royal ceremonies in January 2024.
The marriage marked an important personal chapter, but Mateen’s public responsibilities have continued to expand. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, a qualified military pilot and, since June 4, 2026, Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In February 2026, he and Anisha also became parents to their first child, Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Prince ‘Abdul Mateen ibni Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah |
| Date of birth | August 10, 1991 |
| Age | 35 years old |
| Nationality | Bruneian |
| Father | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Mother | Mariam Abdul Aziz |
| Wife | Anisha Rosnah binti Adam |
| Marriage | January 2024 |
| Child | Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah |
| Current government role | Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam |
| Military rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Military branch | Royal Brunei Armed Forces |
| Sport | Polo |
Who Is Prince Abdul Mateen?
Prince Abdul Mateen is the fourth son and tenth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. His mother is Mariam Abdul Aziz, the Sultan’s former second wife. His position within one of Southeast Asia’s best-known royal households has placed him in public view from childhood, but his later military, diplomatic and sporting work has given him an independent public profile.
His role has grown substantially with age. Earlier international coverage often focused on his military career, polo achievements and appearances alongside his father, but 2026 brought a major governmental responsibility when he was appointed Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The appointment formally positioned him at the center of the country’s international diplomatic work while allowing him to continue his military career.
Family Background and Siblings
Prince Mateen belongs to the House of Bolkiah and was raised as part of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s large royal family. His mother, Mariam Abdul Aziz, had four children with the Sultan: Prince Abdul Azim, Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah and Prince Abdul Mateen. Prince Abdul Azim died in 2020, leaving Mateen with his two older full sisters.
The royal siblings have frequently appeared together at state, family and sporting occasions. Princess Azemah shares Mateen’s enthusiasm for polo and has competed beside him for Brunei. Their participation in the 2017 SEA Games brought the country a bronze medal in team polo, demonstrating how sport has become one of the most visible connections between members of this generation of Brunei’s royal family.
Education and Academic Background
Prince Mateen received his early education in Brunei, including study at St. Andrew’s School, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College and Jerudong International School. He later continued his studies in the United Kingdom, combining academic training with the military education that would become an important part of his professional development.
In 2014, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics at King’s College London. Two years later, he completed a Master of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS, University of London. Those subjects now have particular relevance because his 2026 appointment places international relations and diplomacy at the center of his official work.
Military Training and Career
Mateen began training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on May 9, 2010 and graduated in April 2011 before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant. He subsequently developed an aviation career, completing elementary flying training at RAF Cranwell and later undertaking rotary-wing flying training connected with RAF Shawbury.
His military qualifications continued to expand. The Brunei Ministry of Defence states that he is a qualified Royal Brunei Air Force pilot, holds RAF and RBAirF pilot badges and is qualified to fly the S70i Black Hawk. He joined the Special Forces Regiment in 2019, earned the Green Beret after completing the All Arms Commando Course and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, effective August 8, 2025.
Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah
Anisha Rosnah entered international attention when the royal household announced her engagement to Prince Mateen in October 2023. She comes from a prominent Bruneian family and is the granddaughter of Pehin Dato Isa, who served as a special adviser to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Their marriage therefore united the prince with someone whose family already had longstanding connections to Brunei’s establishment.
The engagement transformed a previously private relationship into one of Asia’s most closely followed royal stories. Anisha increasingly appeared beside Mateen at formal royal occasions, while the prince later shared elements of their wedding and married life through his social media account. Their public presentation has generally remained centered on official events, royal traditions and significant family milestones.
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Their Ten-Day Royal Wedding
Prince Mateen and Anisha’s royal wedding celebrations ran from January 7 through January 16, 2024. The programme incorporated traditional Bruneian ceremonies, religious observances, family events and major public celebrations. The formal solemnisation took place on January 11 at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The scale of the celebrations reflected both the status of the Sultan’s son and the importance of royal ceremonial tradition in Brunei. International coverage followed the events closely as the couple moved through a sequence of rituals before the main royal reception. The wedding became one of the most prominent Bruneian royal events of the decade and drew attention far beyond Southeast Asia.
Wedding Reception and Royal Procession
The celebrations reached a major public moment on January 14, 2024, with a grand reception at Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s palace. The event brought together thousands of guests, including royal families and political leaders from Asia and the Middle East. Prince Mateen appeared in ceremonial military dress while Anisha wore an elaborate white bridal ensemble.
After the reception, the newlyweds took part in a procession through Bandar Seri Begawan, greeting crowds from an open-top vehicle. Streets along the route filled with people hoping to see the royal couple. The combination of palace ceremony and public procession made the occasion both a private family milestone and a major national event for Brunei.
Marriage, Family Life and Daughter Zahra
The couple’s family entered a new chapter in February 2026. Anisha gave birth to their first child, a daughter, on February 8, 2026 at 8:50 a.m. The child was later named Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah, and the royal birth was celebrated formally in Brunei.
On February 11, Mateen shared the name and a family photograph featuring himself, Anisha and their newborn daughter. Zahra is therefore the first child of the couple, who had celebrated their second wedding anniversary only weeks earlier. Her arrival transformed Mateen and Anisha from one of Brunei’s most visible newly married royal couples into a young royal family of three.
Prince Abdul Mateen as Foreign Minister
A significant shift in Prince Mateen’s public life came on June 4, 2026, when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced a Cabinet reshuffle appointing him Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam. The government announcement also made clear that he would continue his military career while assuming an active diplomatic role.
He quickly began carrying out ministerial responsibilities. In July 2026, Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs documented his participation in the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference sessions, the ASEAN Plus Three meeting, ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila.
Polo, Sports and Active Lifestyle
Polo is another major part of Prince Mateen’s public identity. He has represented Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games, including the 2017 competition in Malaysia, where the Brunei polo team earned bronze. He again competed in the 2019 SEA Games, with the Brunei A Division polo team taking another bronze medal.
His athletic profile complements the physical demands of his military training. Commando training, parachuting, aviation and competitive polo all form part of an unusually active royal résumé. Rather than being presented simply as leisure activities, several of these pursuits have involved formal qualifications, national representation or structured military training.
Social Media Presence
Prince Mateen maintains a prominent Instagram presence under @tmski. His account has grown to more than three million followers, and its profile currently identifies his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. His posts mix official engagements with military moments, polo, travel, family occasions and selected glimpses of his personal life.
Social media was particularly important during his marriage. Mateen shared wedding photographs and messages after the January 2024 celebrations, allowing a wider international audience to see aspects of Bruneian royal tradition. In February 2026, Instagram also became the platform through which he shared his daughter Zahra’s name and the couple’s first family photograph.
Interesting Facts About Prince Abdul Mateen
- He trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, graduating in 2011 before beginning a long career in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
- He can fly the S70i Black Hawk, according to Brunei’s Ministry of Defence, and holds both RAF and Royal Brunei Air Force pilot badges.
- He earned a Green Beret after completing the All Arms Commando Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
- He has won SEA Games polo medals for Brunei, including bronze medals with the national team in 2017 and 2019.
- He became Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2026 while continuing his established military career.
Conclusion
The marriage of Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah was more than a lavish royal spectacle. Their January 2024 wedding joined traditional Bruneian ceremonies, a major palace reception and public celebrations across Bandar Seri Begawan. Two years later, the birth of Zahra Mariam Bolkiah gave their marriage another important family milestone.
At the same time, Mateen’s professional responsibilities have expanded dramatically. Now 35 years old, he combines his position within the Brunei royal family with service as a Lieutenant Colonel, military pilot and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His marriage, fatherhood, military record and diplomatic appointment together define the current stage of his public life.
FAQs
How old is Prince Abdul Mateen?
Prince Abdul Mateen is 35 years old. He was born on August 10, 1991, and celebrated his 35th birthday in August 2026.
Who is Prince Abdul Mateen’s wife?
Prince Abdul Mateen is married to Anisha Rosnah binti Adam. Their ten-day royal wedding celebrations took place in January 2024.
Does Prince Abdul Mateen have a child?
Yes. Prince Mateen and Anisha welcomed their first daughter, Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah, on February 8, 2026.
What is Prince Abdul Mateen’s military rank?
Prince Abdul Mateen holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and is a qualified military pilot.
What does Prince Abdul Mateen do now?
Since June 4, 2026, Prince Abdul Mateen has served as Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs while continuing his military career.
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