Brunei Darussalam - Head of Government

HM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah was crowned as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 1 August 1968. He is the 29th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan in his line, which dates back to the 14th century.

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah ascended to the throne on 5 October 1967 following the voluntary abdication of his father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien.

The Sultan is concurrently the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Head of the Religious Council.

He set up the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 1992.

He, who was educated in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK, and was commissioned as Captain in 1967.

He was installed as the Crown Prince in 1961 when he was 15 years old.

The Sultan was born on 15 July 1946 in Brunei Town, now known as Bandar Seri Begawan.