Brunei's 'most handsome prince' appointed foreign minister

Prince Abdul Mateen, known for his good looks in Brunei, has been appointed foreign minister by the Sultan in a cabinet reshuffle.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei announced a cabinet reshuffle on 4/6, appointing two of his sons to key government positions. This move appears to be in preparation for the next generation of leadership.

Prince Abdul Mateen and the Sultan of Brunei at the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu, central Philippines, on 8/5. Photo: AFP

Prince Abdul Mateen, 35 years old and the Sultan's 4th son, has been appointed foreign minister.

Prince Abdul Mateen is a British-trained military officer, a polo enthusiast, and a helicopter pilot. He frequently accompanies his father on foreign trips. The prince married in 2024 and has a three-month-old daughter.

Despite being 5th in the line of succession, his movie star-like appearance has garnered him over 3 million followers on Instagram, making him a modern face for the royal family. This has earned him the nickname "Brunei's most handsome prince".

Mateen's second elder brother, Prince Abdul Malik, 42 years old, was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. The Sultan's eldest son, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, 52 years old and first in line to the throne, retains his position as Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. He has two sons in the line of succession.

The Sultan of Brunei has 12 children with three wives, including five sons. His third son, Prince Abdul Azim (1982-2020), a renowned film producer and philanthropist, passed away in 2020. His youngest son is Prince Abdul Wakeel, born in 2006.

Prince Mateen parachuting in an image posted on 1/6 on his Instagram account. Photo: Instagram/Tmski

According to Sultan Hassanal, Prince Mateen will continue his military career while serving the nation as Brunei's foreign minister. Regarding the appointments, the Sultan stated he "took into account the inclinations and early exposure of both sons to the government's administrative system".

The Sultan of Brunei announced he will continue to hold key roles as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Finance. He also unveiled the creation of three new ministerial positions to enhance policy coordination across the government. Additionally, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism will be transformed into the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

"This decision aims to foster the development of priority sectors, intensify efforts to diversify the economy, support sustainable economic growth, and create meaningful employment opportunities," he said.

The reshuffle also marks the highest number of women appointed to the cabinet to date, including the Minister of Education and three deputy ministers.

Sultan Hassanal, 79 years old, has faced health issues recently. He underwent knee replacement surgery in January and has appeared less frequently in public since the beginning of the year. Last year, he was hospitalized for exhaustion while attending an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Brunei, a narrow strip of land on the northern edge of Borneo island in Southeast Asia, was influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism before converting to Islam in the 14th century. The country gained independence in 1984 after a period as a British protectorate.