Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei

Abdul Mateen ibni Hassanal Bolkiah (Jawi: عبد المتين; born 10 August 1991) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the tenth child and fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, by his former second wife, Yang Mulia Datin Paduka Seri Puan Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz. Additionally, he is the founder of Jab Boxing Gym and the Deputy Chairman 2 of the Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara (JAIN).

Education

Prince Mateen received his primary education at the St. Andrew's School in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. He continued his secondary education at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College and Jerudong International School.

In July 2014, Prince Mateen received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international politics from King's College London at the Barbican Centre in London. In July 2016, Prince Mateen was awarded a Master of Arts degree in international studies and diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Career

Military career

Since young, Prince Mateen had a keen interest in military matters and has actively engaged in and attended a number of military-related events. On 9 May 2010, he began his commissioning course for Regular Army Officers along with 200 recruits in Royal Military Academy Sandhurst at the age of 18. On 15 April 2011, Prince Mateen graduated from the Sovereign's Parade Commissioning Course 102 as an officer cadet of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom and promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. After completing training at Sandhurst, he was attached to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. According to a Borneo Bulletin report, Mateen was promoted to a rank of a Substantive Lieutenant later on 9 July 2012. His promotion ceremony to Acting Captain was held on 31 August 2016 and would come into effect on 9 May later that year. On 28 April 2017, he completed a seven-month Elementary Flying Training on No. 200 Elementary Flying Training Course at RAF Cranwell, and later in March 2018, Prince Mateen was qualified as a helicopter pilot in Defence Helicopter Flying School (Single Engine Rotary Wing Flying Training No. 191 RW Course) at RAF Shawbury, in which his father awarded him his flying brevet (wings). On 30 June 2019, as part of the celebrations honoring the 58th anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), his father gave his permission to grant him honorary membership in the Special Forces Regiment. That same year, he enrolled in the Aviation Physiology Centre and attended the 61st Basic Military Freefall Course in Singapore.

On 20 May 2021, Prince Mateen was promoted to the rank of Major. Later that year, Prince Mateen had undergone The All Arms Commando Course (AACC) at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in the United Kingdom for 11 weeks from 20 September to 2 December, where he received the Green Beret. The RAF reported that he had spent the previous two weeks training alongside 64 other new parachutists. Once he completed the Basic Parachute Course 1317 on 23 September 2022, the award ceremony was held at RAF Brize Norton.

Diplomatic career

From 27 to 29 November 2015, Prince Mateen, as a representative of his father, attended the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta. He was also present at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies' new building in May 2017.

Following leaders' bilateral meetings in Amman on 4 October 2018, which saw the signing of three memorandum of understanding in the areas of infrastructure, tourism, and defense in addition to a customs cooperation agreement, Brunei and Jordan reaffirmed their longstanding alliance. The negotiations were held at Al-Husseinieh Palace with participation from senior cabinet members from both nations as well as Prince Mateen and Crown Prince Al Hussein. Later on 19 October, alongside his father, he attended the 12th Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Brussels, where Brunei demanded that talks to get back up a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN.

On 22 October 2019, saw the culmination of Japan's Emperor Naruhito's succession to the Chrysanthemum throne. With his father, he attended the rituals, which marked the culmination of a transition that began with his father's abdication earlier that year. Later on 3 November, the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits' Opening Ceremony was attended by both father and son at Muang Thong Thani. On 19 September 2022, he and his father were present at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth II's state burial.

From 13 to 14 March 2023, Prince Mateen took part in a comprehensive tour of the Coronado, California-based Naval Special Warfare (NSW) commands. He met with members of NSW and Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids, chief of Navy Special Warfare Command, to talk about potential areas of future cooperation. A description of the human performance program at NSWG-1 was also given to him. The program employs a holistic approach to coordinate resources for the best performance and recovery. It includes strength and conditioning training, sports medicine, performance psychology, performance nutrition, and research and technologies related to human performance. Once again along with his father, he went to the signing of the marriage contract, the royal solemnization ceremony, and the feast and celebration held in honour of Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Khalid Alseif's royal wedding on 1 June.

Sports career

Prince Mateen has represented his country in polo at the 2017 and 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Nearly 3,000 spectators came to watch the polo game between Brunei and Malaysia during the 2017 SEA Games, with notably him and his sister, Princess Azemah facing off Malaysian Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The 48° Torneo Internacional de Polo concluded at Santa María Polo Club in 2019 with the season's highlight event as the high goal Gold Cup final, which saw his team, MB Polo, win the coveted championship for the first time.

On 7 April 2007, the AM Gunners captained by Abdul Mateen ended in a 1–1 draw against team Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP) during a Charity football match. The match which took place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium collected a total of B$12,192. A charity match between Mateen-led AM Gunners and Sport School was again held at the same location on 22 March 2008.

Marriage

Abdul Mateen and Anisha seen during their street parade, following their wedding in 2024

Prince Mateen and Anisha Rosnah binti Adam's royal wedding was declared on Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's orders. On 7 January 2024, the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja marked the beginning of the royal wedding. Anisha Rosnah is the granddaughter of Pehin Dato Isa who is the special advisor to the Sultan of Brunei. The celebration will last for ten days and include a number of religious ceremonies. A 17-gun salute marked his arrival, and a procession of forty spear bearers preceded him. Anisha Rosnah arrived and received the same blessings from the Sultan and Queen Saleha before anybody else did. The pair wore coordinating crimson dresses for the occasion.

President Joko Widodo, President Bongbong Marcos and Liza Araneta Marcos, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Ho Ching, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Wan Azizah were among the special guests at the royal wedding reception on the 14th January 2024. Princess Noor and Amr Zedan, Princess Munira Al-Saud and Prince Mamdouh, Sheikh Rashid, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar, Tunku Idris Iskandar, Tengku Fahd Mu'adzam, and Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah were also present.

Personal life

His residence is located at Istana Nurul Izzah, Jerudong. Some of his hobbies include association football, horse riding, boxing, skiing, tennis, drums and guitar. In April 2023, he alongside other family members performed the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca.

Titles, styles and honours

Namesakes

• Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Mateen Mosque (PMAM), a place of worship in Kampong Mulaut.

Awards

• Lee Kuan Yew Fellowship (2023)

Honours

National

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

• Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB)
• Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri (15 July 2021)
• Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan Medal (PHBS)
• Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
• Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
• National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
• General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
• Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 12 June 2024)
• Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal (31 May 2011)
• Honorary Member of the Special Forces Regiment (30 June 2019)

Foreign

• United Kingdom:
  • Recipient of the Sandhurst Medal

External links

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